Mudbugs Fall in Game 5
April 17, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Rapid City Rush took a 3-2 series lead over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs with a 4-1 victory in Game 5 of the Northern Conference Finals Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs will now head to Rapid City needing a win in Tuesday's Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Wednesday.
Justin Aikins scored the lone goal for the âBugs, who were held to a single tally for the first time this postseason. Danny Battochio stopped 32 shots for Rapid City as the Mudbugs outshot the Rush 33-31 on the night. Parker Van Buskirk made 27 saves for Bossier-Shreveport, but dropped to 2-2 in the playoffs.
Rapid City got on the board first in this one when Scott Wray's shot was deflected right to Brendan Cook, who shot the puck into an open net to give the Rush a 1-0 lead at 4:34. The Mudbugs answered just over a minute later as Tyrel Lucas muscled his way deep into the Rapid City zone and fed a pass out front to Aikins, who knocked the puck past Battochio to tie the game at one. Although the âBugs outshot the Rush 17-8 in the period, the game was tied after 20 minutes.
Neither team found the back of the net in the second frame as the Rush skated to a 12-6 shot advantage. The deadlock continued into the third until the Mudbugs turned the puck over in their own zone at 4:06. That allowed Colt King to skate around the net and hit Brendon Hodge, who fired home the go-ahead goal on the doorstep for Rapid City.
The Rush extended the lead off another turnover with seven minutes remaining as King buried the rebound of Riley Weselowski's shot to make it 3-1 for the visitors. Blaine Jarvis capped off the win with an empty net goal as Rapid City pulled ahead in the series.
The âBugs were held scoreless on the powerplay for the first time in the playoffs in Game 5, missing on three opportunities to break a string of five straight games with multiple powerplay goals. The Rush also missed on its only powerplay chance of the night.
The Mudbugs will now look to keep their season alive Tuesday night in a must-win Game 6 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Opening faceoff is set for 7:35 pm Central time with pregame coverage starting at 7:15 on News Radio 710 AM KEEL.
The game will also be shown live online on CHL TV, and the Mudbugs will be hosting another playoff watch party at the Buffalo Wild Wings location on Youree Drive in Shreveport.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2010
- Americans drop Game Five 6-3 to Odessa, still lead series 3-2 - Allen Americans
- Rush Push Mudbugs to the Brink with Convincing 4-1 Victory - Rapid City Rush
- Chris Stewart, Matt Thomas and Don Money guest this week on Puska On Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
- Mudbugs Fall in Game 5 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Jacks Stay Alive with Game Five Win, 6-3 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Allen takes 3-1 series lead with 6-4 win over Odessa - Allen Americans
- Mudbugs Roll Over Rush to Tie Series - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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