Mudbugs Knock Off First Place Jackalopes
January 2, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs kicked off 2009 in style with a solid 5-2 victory over the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday night at CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs used four second-period goals to knock off the top team in the Southern Conference for their 18th win of the season.
Joe Blaznek scored two goals and added an assist, Travis Clayton had three assists and Ken Carroll was stellar in net with 30 saves as Bossier-Shreveport rebounded from a bitter loss Wednesday night in Mississippi to beat Odessa for the tenth consecutive time. Chris Brassard scored the 145th goal of his Mudbugs career in the game, moving him past Trevor Buchanan as the second-leading goal scorer in Mudbugs history. Tyrel Lucas and Brett Smith each added on a goal and an assist as well.
The Jackalopes had the edge in the first period, generating a few good chances and finishing the period with an 11-6 shot advantage, but Carroll made a few good saves and the Mudbugs held Odessa off the board.
The Bugs came out firing in the second period, scoring at the 2:02 mark when Tyrel Lucas put a rebound past Dan McWhinney from the doorstep to give them a 1-0 lead. A short time later, the Mudbugs held a puck in the offensive zone at the blueline and Travis Clayton skated it behind the net before sending a backhand pass through traffic to Joe Blaznek. Blaznek rifled a great shot into the top corner of the net inside the far post to make it 2-0. Later in the period, Neil Clark's hard work along the boards helped free the puck to Chris Brassard in the circle, who then scored his seventh of the year to pass Assistant Coach Trevor Buchanan for second on the franchise's all-time goal scoring list and put the Bugs on top 3-0. Blaznek capped off the period with his second of the night on assists from Clayton and Lucas, and Bossier-Shreveport held a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Odessa came back in the third period though, getting a goal from Colin Circelli early on to get the Jacks on the board. Circelli scored again less than four minutes later on a great individual effort and Odessa was back in the game at 4-2. Carroll stood tall for the rest of the night though, making a few wonderful saves and holding off a late 6-on-4 Jackalopes advantage. Brett Smith finished off Odessa with his second shorthanded empty net goal of the season with 12 seconds remaining to make it 5-2.
Carroll got his seventh win in goal to improve to 7-3-1 this year, while McWhinney was pegged with the loss before giving way to Jeremy Symington in the third period. The Jackalopes finished the game with a 32-28 shot advantage, but were 0 for 6 on the powerplay, while the Mudbugs were 0 for 4.
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Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2009
- Mudbugs Knock Off First Place Jackalopes - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas Beat 'Rays, Tied for First in Southeast - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Brahmas Edge IceRays 4-3 in Shootout - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Gorillas Break Home Losing Streak with 5-4 Win - Amarillo Gorillas
- Mudbugs Sink Jacks with Four Second Period Goals - Odessa Jackalopes
- Summers Shines In RiverKings Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Gorillas Edge Bees 5-4 - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Thunder Blanked by Eagles - Wichita Thunder
- Eagles Silence Thunder; Penner Gets First Shutout of Season - Colorado Eagles
- Rage Welcome Back D-man Briggs - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Oilers Name Tony Martino Coach - Tulsa Oilers
- Colorado Stays #1 on Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll - CHL
- Bucks, Brahmas Battle For First - Laredo Bucks
- Cameron Named CHL Player of the Month for December - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Colorado's Andrew Penner Named Sher-Wood/Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Month - CHL
- Texas' Jordan Cameron Named Sher-Wood/Central Hockey League Player of the Month - CHL
- Bugs to Host Jacks, Dogs This Weekend - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Shots from the Point - CHL
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