IceRays Edge 'Bugs in a Shootout

Published on March 21, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Corpus Christi IceRays scored twice in the seven-round shootout to squeak by the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 3-2 on Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. Even with the point gained in the shootout loss, Oklahoma City's 5-2 victory over Wichita drops the Mudbugs back into a fourth place finish in the Northern Conference. As the fourth seed in the North, the ‘Bugs will now start the 2009 CHL President's Cup playoffs in a best-of-three first round series with the fifth-seed Rocky Mountain Rage. With the win, Corpus Christi clinches the fifth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference.

Trailing 2-1 in the final minute of the third period, Dale Lupul tied the game at two for the Mudbugs to force overtime. Bossier-Shreveport appeared to have the game won in OT when the puck took a carom off the glass and bounced out front with IceRays goaltender Kris Tebbs standing behind the net. As Kevin Cooper went to shoot the puck into the open net, Tebbs somehow dove back into the crease to deflect the shot away with his stick and keep Corpus Christi alive. John Adams then broke a 1-1 tie as Corpus Christi's final shooter to give the IceRays the win.

The Mudbugs scored the game's first goal less than five minutes in on a great effort by Tyrel Lucas. Lucas was driving toward the net when his shot was deflected into the air and over goaltender Kris Tebbs' head. Lucas stayed with the play, knocking the puck out of midair and into the net for his 21st goal of the season. The ‘Bugs killed off two Corpus Christi powerplays in the first period and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The IceRays countered in the second though when Justin Quenneville got behind the Mudbugs' defense and beat Ken Carroll with a nice move to tie the game at one. Corpus Christi took the lead with just 2:01 left in the second when Mark Tobin knocked in the rebound of a Quenneville shot to make it a 2-1 game after two periods.

Bossier-Shreveport carried much of the play in the third period and had a number of good chances but couldn't tie the game until the final minute. With the ‘Bugs on a late powerplay and Carroll on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Lupul fired a wrister through a screen and over Tebbs' shoulder from the right circle to tie the game with only 38 seconds left in regulation.

Tebbs' heroics in the overtime came as the Mudbugs dumped the puck around the glass in the Corpus Christi zone. As the goaltender came out to play the puck behind the net, it took a strange bounce off the glass and rolled harmlessly out front when Cooper raced into the play. Tebbs dove and stopped Cooper's shot with his outstretched stick to keep the IceRays alive.

The shootout was scoreless through three rounds until Simon Mangos gave the ‘Bugs a 1-0 advantage. As the fifth shooter for Corpus Christi, Jereme Tendler scored to continue the game before Adams ended it as the seventh IceRays' shooter to finish off the 3-2 win.

Ken Carroll stopped 22 shots in the shootout loss, while Kris Tebbs made 36 saves in the victory. Bossier-Shreveport finished 1 for 3 on the powerplay and outshot the IceRays 38-25 in total. Corpus Christi was 0 for 4 on the powerplay.

The Mudbugs will now start the 2009 CHL playoffs with Game 1 of a Northern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Rocky Mountain Rage on Monday night at the Broomfield Events Center in Broomfield, Colorado. Opening faceoff is set for 8:05 pm with pregame coverage starting at 7:45 on 710 AM KEEL. The game will also be shown live online on the CHL Network.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2009


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