Mudbugs Special Teams Shut Down Rage
February 29, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Special teams were the key factor as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs used three powerplay goals and a perfect night on the penalty kill to beat the Rocky Mountain Rage 4-1 on Thursday night at CenturyTel Center.
Matt York had a goal and two assists, Joe Ori scored twice and Chris Brassard broke a 1-1 tie with the powerplay game-winner in the third period as the 'Bugs won for the 40th time this year. Bossier-Shreveport's penalty killers shut down the Rage's second ranked powerplay unit six times in the game and went 3 for 6 on their own powerplay to gain the advantage over the only team in the Northern Conference that they hadn't previously beaten.
The game started out with twenty minutes of entertaining hockey as both teams skated well and showed their skills at both ends of the ice. Each team missed on two powerplay chances, and it looked like the period would end scoreless until Rage Captain Brent Cullaton made a big play. Clay Plume just got the puck past Jake Ortmeyer at the Rocky Mountain blueline to spring the Rage on a 2-on-1 break. Cullaton made a nice move to fake the pass and bury his 16th goal of the season with just 25 seconds left in the period to give the Rage a 1-0 advantage.
The same theme continued into the second period, with Rocky Mountain goalie Scott Reid playing well even when the ice started tilting his direction. Bossier-Shreveport then tied the game up on the powerplay midway through the period. After getting a pass from Kevin Cooper, Matt York' s slapshot from the top of the circle caromed off the end boards and right to Joe Ori, who tapped in a backhand at the side of the crease to make it 1-1. The Mudbugs took over for the remainder of the period, peppering Reid with 18 total shots, but the seventh-year netminder made a number of great saves to keep the game tied after 40 minutes.
Bossier-Shreveport wasted no time taking the lead in the third period, drawing another penalty and cashing in on their fifth powerplay of the game. Karlis Zirnis skated the puck into the offensive zone and waited to get some help before making a play. The help came in the form of Brassard, who took Zirnis' pass and fired a low shot just inside the left post for his team-leading 25th goal of the season that put the 'Bugs up 2-1. Just over three minutes later, the Mudbugs finished off another powerplay chance when York 's slapshot found its way through traffic and to the back of the net for a 3-1 lead. Bossier-Shreveport killed off two more Rage powerplays before Ori finished it off with his 24th goal into an empty net to make it a 4-1 final score.
John DeCaro made a handful of great saves among his 24 for the game to earn his league-leading 23rd victory of the season. Reid ended with 32 stops in defeat, falling to 22-10-3. Final shots for the game were 36 for the Mudbugs and 25 for the Rage. The win improves the Bugs' Northern Conference lead to 13 points over Rocky Mountain.
With ten games remaining in the regular season, the Mudbugs will now embark on a four game road trip before finishing the season with four of their final six games at home. The trip will start on Saturday in North Richland Hills, Texas for a game against the Brahmas. Bossier-Shreveport and Texas will clash for the ninth time this season with the Brahmas battling Youngstown and Mississippi for the last two Northern Conference playoff berths. Opening faceoff is set for 7:05 pm at the NyTex Sports Centre, with pregame coverage starting at 6:45 pm on 1130 AM KWKH.
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