Mudbugs Rally Past Rage to Win in Overtime
March 25, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
Bossier City, La. - The Rocky Mountain Rage were less than three minutes away from advancing to the next round of the Ray Miron President's Cup Playoffs, but the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs rallied from a two-goal third period deficit to win Game Two in overtime off a game-winner from Dave Pszenyczny, 5-4.
A decisive Game Three of the teams' Northern Conference Opening Round series is tomorrow at the CenturyTel Center at 5:05 p.m. MDT. All the play-by-play action of Game Three will be carried live on the CHL Network at www.rockymountainrage.com.
The Rage's 4-3 victory in Game One of the series began with a power play goal for the home side, and the same scenario unfolded tonight when the Mudbugs drew first blood on the man advantage at 7:39 of the first off the stick of Joe Ori. Rocky Mountain squared the contest at 13:33 of the opening frame after David Morelli swept in a rebound generated by a Nathan O'Nabigon shot, and the clubs headed to the second tied at one.
Bossier-Shreveport again pulled in front by a single goal as Travis Clayton corralled a rebound and went upstairs past Rage netminder Scott Reid five seconds after a âBugs power play expired at 2:05. They held that lead for 17 minutes until O'Nabigon spun out of the right wing corner past Most Outstanding Defenseman nominee Dale Lupul before beating Bossier-Shreveport goaltender Ken Carroll with a wrister to tie the game at two with 54 seconds left in the frame.
Rocky Mountain then jumped into the lead for the first time just 11 seconds into the third. Colt King pounced on a rebound, and when Scott Wray scored off a slapshot from the right circle while spearheading a three-on-two, the visitors had a two-goal cushion with 15:17 to play.
The Mudbugs, who were one of the best come-from-behind teams in the league during the regular season, managed to pull themselves off the deck in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Mark Johnson beat Reid coming down the slot off the backhand at 10:40 to draw his club within one. Then with the âBugs on the power play, Clayton notched another tally off a rebound at 17:13 to send the teams to overtime tied at four.
Not three minutes into the extra session the Rage were a goal post away from a two-game sweep. Mark Smith hit the left post, and the puck slid across the goal line until Carroll fell backwards on it to get a whistle and keep his team alive.
The clubs remained tied through the mid-way point of the frame when Bossier-Shreveport attacked through the left circle. Reid came well out to make a first stop, but lost track of the rebound. Pszenyczny got to it first but was thwarted by Clay Plume, who was backing up Reid. Pszenyczny then dove for his own rebound and knuckled it through Plume for the series-tying tally at 10:55 of OT.
One the big differences in the game was special teams. The Mudbugs essentially converted three times on their 11 chances (officially 2 for 11), while the Rage were held at bay on their six opportunities.
The winner of tomorrow's Game Three advances to face the Governors' Cup-winning Colorado Eagles in the Game One of the Northern Conference Semifinals at the Budweiser Events Center on Sunday, March 29, at 7:05 p.m. MDT.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2009
- Pszenyczny's OT Winner Ties Series for Mudbugs - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mudbugs Rally Past Rage to Win in Overtime - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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- RiverKings Take Final Yellowbook CHL Coaches Poll - CHL
- Bucky Still In Jail: Bail Set At $5 Tickets - Laredo Bucks
- Kris Tebbs Named Sher-Wood/Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Month - CHL
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- IceRays Kris Tebbs Named Sher-Wood/CHL Goaltender of the Month - CHL
- Playoffs Start Tonight For RiverKings-Blazers - Mississippi RiverKings
- Mudbugs vs. Rage: Game Two Tonight - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks, âJacks Playoff Series Preview - Laredo Bucks
- Austin Sutter wins CHL Player of the Week - Amarillo Gorillas
- Carroll Named CHL Goaltender of the Week - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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