Mudbugs Week in Review
March 15, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
MEMPHIS GETS BY AGAIN â The Mudbugs and Memphis RiverKings were involved in a one-goal contest on Friday night for the sixth consecutive time, but Memphis prevailed in their fourth straight win against the Mudbugs, 3-2 in overtime at the DeSoto Civic Center. After a scoreless first period that featured 16 saves from Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll, Don Parsons scored on Memphis' fourth power play chance of the game with a one-timer from the left circle. After Quade Lightbody and Jay Neal traded goals midway through the third period, Craig Minard beat RiverKings goaltender Jean-Francois Racine on a wrap-around to tie the game at 2-2 going into overtime. Just 35 seconds into the extra session, Jasmin Gelinas fired a shot from the top of the circle past Ken Carroll for the game-winning goal and the Mudbugs fell to 4-5-3 this year in 12 meetings against their rivals.
THUNDER ROLLS THROUGH â On Saturday night, the Wichita Thunder inched closer to a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over the Mudbugs in front of 8,069 fans at the CenturyTel Center. The two squads took a scoreless battle into the second until Dan Wildfong tipped a Jason Campbell shot past Wichita goaltender Nathan Grobins for a 1-0 Mudbugs lead with 1:02 left in the middle frame. Special teams then took center stage in the game as the Mudbugs began the third period with four consecutive minor penalties. With two five-on-three power play chances, the Thunder took the lead with two power play goals from defenseman Darryl Green just 1:44 apart. After the Mudbugs took control of the momentum, Wichita countered when Travis Clayton fired a wrist shot past Blair on the rush to increase the lead. The Mudbugs mounted an attack in the final minutes, but failed to beat Wichita goaltender Nathan Grobins, who finished the game with 22 saves.
BLAIR BLANKS BEES â On Sunday, the Mudbugs found out who their first round playoff opponent will be and ended the regular season on a high note with a 1-0 shutout of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the CenturyTel Center. With the win, the Mudbugs finished the regular season with a 42-16-6 record and a .703 winning percentage, their second-best in franchise history. Jeff Blair was the number-one star of the game with 34 saves, including 12 in the scoreless first period. Craig Soke scored the game's lone goal after taking a Jim Sprott pass and beating Killer Bees goaltender Jeff Levy for his 23rd of the year, just 3:46 into the second period. Soke's total of 23 goals this season is the second-most by a Mudbugs rookie in team history. Blair's shutout is the fourth of his career, all of which have taken place this season with the Mudbugs. He improved his record to 17-5-2 with the team.
MUDBUGS STARS OF THE WEEK
Quade Lightbody â Fifth career goal on Friday at Memphis and solid defensive work all week
Jeff Blair â Reached twenty wins overall this season for the first time in his career on Sunday vs. Rio Grande Valley
Craig Minard â Finished the regular season as the Mudbugs' leading scoring defenseman with 25 points
NORTHERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS â With a win over Colorado on Sunday, the Indianapolis Ice solidified the third playoff position in the Northern Conference and will travel to the CenturyTel Center for Game 1 of the best-of-five 2004 Northern Conference Semifinals series on Friday March 19th. Game 2 will take place on Saturday March 20th at 7:05 p.m., also in Bossier City. Games 3 and 4 will be played on Saturday and Sunday of the following weekend in Indianapolis. Game 5, if necessary, will be back at the CenturyTel Center on Tuesday March 30th. This year, the Mudbugs went 5-3-0 versus the Ice. The second series in the North features the Colorado Eagles against the Wichita Thunder.
THIS WEEK â On Friday, the Mudbugs will host Game 1 of the Northern Conference Semifinals series against the Indianapolis Ice at 7:05 p.m. at the CenturyTel Center. Game 2 will then take place on Saturday night, also at 7:05 p.m. in Bossier City. For more information on playoff ticket packages and scheduling, please call 318-752-BUGS.
MUDBUGS RECORD THIS WEEK: 1-1-1
OVERALL RECORD: 42-16-6 1st Place in Northeast Division (90 points)
HOME RECORD: 23-6-3
ROAD RECORD: 19-10-3
Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2004
- Parsons' Pledge event received well by supporters - Mississippi RiverKings
- CHL Names Bauer/Nike Player of the Week, Vaughn Goaltender of the Week - CHL
- Colorado Eagles week in review - Colorado Eagles
- Mudbugs Week in Review - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Saints playoff hockey - believe it! - San Angelo Saints
- RiverKings goaltender Racine called up to St. John's - Mississippi RiverKings
- Shutouts and Sellouts Leads to CHL Honors - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Killer Bees Add Two For Playoffs - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Marcellus Named CHL Player of the Week - Tulsa Oilers
- Mudbugs the featured entree - Indianapolis Ice
- Gorillas and the Saints set to rumble in first round of playoffs - Amarillo Gorillas
- Brahmas end season with win over Ice Bats - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks & Law Out & About - Laredo Bucks
- Thunder playoff bound - Wichita Thunder
- Tulsa Closes Out 2003-2004 Campaign 4-0 - Tulsa Oilers
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