Mudbugs Top Rage, Advance to Round Two
Published on March 27, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs advanced to the second round of the 2009 CHL playoffs with a 5-3 victory over the Rocky Mountain Rage in Game 3 of the Northern Conference Opening Round series on Thursday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs defeat the Rage two games to one in the best-of-three series to advance to the Northern Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Governor's Cup Champion Colorado Eagles.
Bossier-Shreveport built a 2-0 advantage and was able to counter every time Rocky Mountain scored to maintain the lead throughout a crazy second period. The two teams combined for seven goals in the middle frame. Brett Smith and Travis Clayton each had a goal and an assist for the Mudbugs, while Joe Blaznek and Joe Ori added two assists.
The Mudbugs controlled the tempo in the first period, getting the game's first ten shots on goal and leading 1-0 after 20 minutes. Rage goalie Scott Reid stood up to a number of quality scoring chances before Kevin Cooper put the 'Bugs on top. As the Mudbugs had the puck at center ice, a Rocky Mountain defender was about to get it back when Cooper swooped in and stole it away before breaking into the zone and backhanding a shot through Reid's five-hole to make it a 1-0 game at 13:19 of the first.
The second period saw a season-high seven goals scored between the two teams, with the Mudbugs answering every time the Rage got closer to tying it up. Travis Clayton started the scoring early in the period, banking the puck off Reid's pad and into the net to put Bossier-Shreveport on top 2-0 with a powerplay goal. Rocky Mountain then got on the board when Clay Plume buried a rebound chance in front of Ken Carroll for a powerplay goal that made it 2-1.
Just 1:09 later, Tyrel Lucas buried his first goal of the playoffs top corner off a feed from Ori to extend the lead back to 3-1. The Rage followed that when the puck bounced off the post and came to rest in the crease before Daymen Rycroft poked it in to make it a 3-2 game. The Mudbugs again lit the lamp 1:30 after that when Mark Johnson got a pass from Neil Clark and beat Reid with a stick-side backhander that made it 4-2.
Rocky Mountain answered again when Domenic Maiani scored on a nice backhand shot to pull the Rage back within 4-3. Bossier-Shreveport then scored the period's final goal a short time later on another great setup by Ori. Ori raced down the left wing side and came deep into the Rocky Mountain zone before dishing a pass into the slot for Brett Smith, who one-timed a hard shot past Reid to make it a 5-3 Mudbugs lead after two periods. Both teams pulled their starting goaltenders during the offensive barrage in the period.
With Rocky Mountain trailing by two to start the third, the 'Bugs tightened up defensively and didn't let the Rage come any closer. Bossier-Shreveport killed off 1:35 of 5-on-3 powerplay time for Rocky Mountain early in the period to maintain the two-goal advantage. Jon Horrell made a handful key saves in the third as the Mudbugs were outshot in a period for the first time in the series, 14-7.
Ken Carroll got the win in goal, making seven saves on ten shots before Horrell came in after Rocky Mountain's third goal. Horrell stopped all 18 shots he saw while playing the final 28:37 of the contest. Scott Reid stopped 24 of 29 shots before being lifted in favor of Marty Magers, who made nine saves on nine shots in just over 25 minutes on the ice.
The Mudbugs finished 2 for 5 on the powerplay, while the Rage were 1 for 5 in the game. The 'Bugs outshot Rocky Mountain 38-28 in Game 3 and 134-75 in the series.
It's now on to the second round for Bossier-Shreveport, where they will face the top-seeded Colorado Eagles in the Northern Conference Semifinals. The series will begin with Game 1 on Sunday night at 8:05 pm Central time at the Budweiser Events Center. Game 2 will follow on Monday night, also at 8:05 pm in Loveland, Colorado. The series will then shift back to CenturyTel Center for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). The entire schedule for the best-of-seven Mudbugs vs. Eagles Semifinal series will be released tomorrow. Log on to www.mudbugshockey.com to stay updated on all the latest Mudbugs playoff news, schedules and ticketing information.
Season and group tickets are on sale by calling 318-752-BUGS (2847) or by visiting our website at www.mudbugshockey.com.
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- Mudbugs Top Rage, Advance to Round Two - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
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