Hot Streak Continues With Another Shutout

February 8, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - John DeCaro stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs extended their CHL record with their 12th shutout victory of the season, winning by a final score of 3-0 over Oklahoma City on Friday night. In completing a five-game sweep of their regular season series with the Blazers, the Mudbugs also shut out the Blazers at the Ford Center for the third time this year.

Ryan Fairbarn assisted on all three Mudbugs goals and Daniel Pegoraro finished with a goal and an assist as Bossier-Shreveport made a 1-0 first period lead hold up until the third in one of the uglier games this year.

The first period was filled with penalties and scrums after the whistle, as tempers repeatedly flared up. The period also featured a fight between Jake Ortmeyer and Erick Lizon. In all, the Mudbugs finished with four powerplay chances, while the Blazers had three. Bossier-Shreveport would end the period with a 1-0 lead on Pegoraro's powerplay goal. Tyrel Lucas' pass into the slot was actually deflected by the defenseman, but still found its way onto Pegoraro's stick as he cut in front of Jason Wolfe and backhanded it past the goaltender for his tenth goal this year.

The tight-checking game continued into the second period, with neither team generating much sustained offense. The chippy play also continued and the second period ended just like the first a 1-0 Mudbugs.

The game opened up a bit in the third period, with the teams generating a few more scoring chances. The 'Bugs gained a two-goal lead when Fairbarn sprung Kevin Cooper on a breakaway at 4:24 of the final period. Cooper scored his 18th of the year to give Bossier-Shreveport the cushion. Later in the period with the Mudbugs on another powerplay, Jason Basile took a cross-ice pass and showed great patience to let the goaltender commit before making his move toward the net and finishing his fourth of the year to provide the final score of 3-0, extending the team's streak to 24 in a row without a regulation loss.

In going 5-0 against the Blazers this season, the Mudbugs outscored Oklahoma City 17-3 and didn't give up a goal in three appearances at the Ford Center .

Despite not surrendering a goal, DeCaro actually doesn't get credit for a shutout because Ken Carroll started the game and played the first 35 seconds before DeCaro entered the contest at the first whistle. DeCaro did, however, extend his personal shutout streak to 183:38. Oklahoma City did not score a goal against him this season. The Blazers outshot the 'Bugs 30-24, but finished 0 for 8 on the powerplay, while the Mudbugs converted 2 of 7 chances.

Friday night's game was just the beginning of games on three consecutive days for the Mudbugs, who will now return home to take on the Texas Brahmas on Saturday. The Brahmas were idle on Friday night leading up to a home-and-home weekend set with the Mudbugs. Saturday night at 7:05 at CenturyTel Center , Bossier-Shreveport and Texas will battle for the sixth time this season before heading west to North Richland Hills, Texas for an afternoon game on Sunday at 3:05 at the NyTex Sports Centre. Saturday is also NASCAR night at the CenturyTel Center , when the Mudbugs will wear their specialty NASCAR jerseys sponsored by Nelson Oil & Gas to be auctioned off after the game. Individual tickets for the game can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700 and group tickets are on sale through the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2008


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