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Fairbarn Scores OT Winner Against Oilers

December 15, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


TULSA, OK - Ryan Fairbarn scored the overtime game-winning goal as Bossier-Shreveport beat Tulsa 5-4 Saturday night at the Tulsa Convention Center .

The Mudbugs rallied from a two-goal deficit and then couldn't hold on to a 4-2 lead in one of the craziest games so far this year on a snowy night in Tulsa .

Tulsa came out firing in the first period and quickly ended a long scoring drought against the Mudbugs. Lucas Burnett skated down the boards and drove to the front of the net, beating John DeCaro to put Tulsa up 1-0. That goal broke an Oilers scoreless streak of 125:50 against the Mudbugs dating back to last season. Then on a Tulsa powerplay, Jeff Christian fed the puck in the slot for Paul Kelly who roofed it just under the crossbar to put the Oilers up by two just over eight minutes into the contest. The Mudbugs would rebound later in the opening frame though, ending up with 22 shots on goal for the period and scoring before the period was out. Kevin Cooper put in the rebound of a Joe Ori shot to make it 2-1 after the first.

Bossier-Shreveport continued their comeback as the second period got underway, first tying the game and then taking the lead. Tyrel Lucas' eighth goal of the season on the powerplay tied it up at two early in the period. Then just over a minute later, with Bossier-Shreveport on another powerplay, Daniel Pegoraro won a face-off straight back to Dale Lupul, who immediately wristed it past

Kevin St. Pierre to give the Mudbugs a 3-2 lead. Chris Brassard's team leading tenth goal of the season on a brilliant even-strength cycling play then gave the ‘Bugs a two goal cushion at 4-2. Then it was Tulsa 's turn to come back, capitalizing on Mudbugs penalties with powerplay goals from Warren McCutcheon and Paul Kelly to tie the game back up at four apiece after forty minutes.

In the third period, the Mudbugs thought they had taken the lead as the goal light came on after a scrum in front of the Oilers' net, but referee Paul DePuydt immediately waved the goal off. Neither team could break the tie for the rest of the third, and Bossier-Shreveport went to overtime for the fourth time this season.

Early in the extra session, Tulsa appeared to be on their way to a win when Jeff Christian and David Beauregard had a two-on-one chance. Christian fed Beauregard with a cross-ice pass, but John DeCaro was there to make the save and preserve the tie. A short time later, Elias Godoy fed the puck out of his own zone to Kevin Cooper, who sped in the offensive end and handed it to Ryan Fairbarn. Fairbarn skated in front of the net all alone and scored his fourth goal of the season and second game-winner as the Mudbugs earned their first overtime win of the season, 5-4 over the Oilers.

Tulsa finished 3 for 6 on the powerplay, while Bossier-Shreveport was 2 for 5. The Mudbugs outshot the Oilers 49-38 in the game.

Bossier-Shreveport will now head home to battle the Oilers again on Tuesday night at the CenturyTel Center . Tuesday's game will be the last time the teams meet until the final week of the regular season. Opening face-off is set for 7:05 pm at the CenturyTel Center between the Mudbugs and the Oilers.

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