Mudbugs Survive Tulsa, Advance to Third Round
April 23, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Despite bringing a three-goal lead into the third period, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were forced to hold off a late rally to earn a series-clinching 5-4 victory over the Tulsa Oilers in the deciding Game 5 of the Berry Conference Semifinals Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. After winning the series three games to two, the Mudbugs will now advance to the Berry Conference Finals to face the top-seeded Alle n Americans.
Steven Crampton set up three goals in the victory, while Andy Contois and Nick Layton each had a goal and an assist. Justin Aikins also posted two helpers as the Mudbugs built a 4-1 lead through 40 minutes before the Oilers tallied three times in the third period and kept pushing until the final horn.
After Tulsa gained a 4-0 shot edge in the opening minutes, it was the âBugs who would score first. Justin Aikins and Steven Crampton worked hard in the corner to free the puck up before Crampton fed it to Nick Layton, who stuffed it through Ian Keserich's five-hole in front at 11:39.
The Oilers countered a few minutes later when Bates Battaglia picked up a Mudbugs turnover and sniped a perfect shot into the top corner to tie the game. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Andy Contois got a pass from Crampton in the neutral zone and sped right through the Tulsa defense to the front before chipping a shot into the top corner to give the âBugs a 2-1 lead.
The home team extended the lead at 6:04 of the second when Crampton made a brilliant pass to spring Contois and Brett Smith on a 2-on-1 break. Smith then deflected Contois' pass into the net to make it 3-1. David Rutherford extended the advantage to 4-1 late in the period with a powerplay goal, stepping in from the right boards and rifling a shot past Keserich's stick side.
Tulsa roared back in the third period as Evan Kotsopoulos one-timed a Marty Standish pass into the net and then Michael Beausoleil backhanded a rebound past John DeCaro 57 seconds later to cut the lead to one. Bossier-Shreveport went back up by a pair at 9:35 after goaltender Trevor Cann (who had replaced an injured Keserich) stopped Jim Jorgensen's shot off a pass from Jeff Kyrzakos only to have Shawn Limpright knock in the rebound to put the lead at 5-3.
Chad Costello scored a powerplay goal for Tulsa to make it 5-4 with less than five minutes remaining, but the Oilers could not find the equalizer as the âBugs went on to win the game and clinch the series victory.
John DeCaro (5-1) finished with 21 saves as the Mudbugs ended with a 30-25 shot advantage. Ian Keserich stopped 15 shots in the first two periods before Trevor Cann (4-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing one third period goal on 11 shots. Both teams ended up 1 for 5 on the powerplay.
The Mudbugs will now await a finalized schedule for their best-of-seven Berry Conference Final series against the Governors' Cup Champion Allen Americans, who dispatched Rio Grande Valley and Odessa to reach the third round.
Schedule and ticket information for the Mudbugs series against Allen will be released in the coming days, so be sure to check www.mudbugshockey.com or call 752-BUGS for more information.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2011
- Mudbugs Survive Tulsa, Advance to Third Round - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mudbugs Host Oilers Tonight in Deciding Game 5 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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