Mudbugs Week in Review
March 22, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
WILDFONG, CARROLL LEAD THE WAY â Dan Wildfong scored two goals and Ken Carroll made 23 saves as the Mudbugs took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series against the Indianapolis Ice with a 3-2 win on Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Bugs got all three of their goals early in each period starting with Chris Brassard on the power play with a shot from the blue line that deflected past Ice goaltender Jeff Sanger, just 2:08 into the game. However, Nate Elliott tied the contest just 3:20 later with a shot from the slot that skipped under the glove of Ken Carroll and into the net for his first of the playoffs. Three minutes into the second period and immediately after a Mudbugs power play chance, Craig Soke found Dan Wildfong in front of the net for a tip-in past Sanger to give the Mudbugs the lead once again. Early in the third period, Wildfong struck again with his second of the game after taking a Chad Spurr pass in the slot and lifting a shot past Sanger at 2:01. Philippe Choiniere kept the Ice close with a goal at 8:57 of third after he found a loose puck from a goal-mouth scramble and scored to cut the deficit to one. However, the Mudbugs and Carroll shut down the Ice for the rest of the game, holding Indianapolis to just eight third period shots.
BRASSARD'S WINNER GIVES BUGS CONTROL â Chris Brassard scored 50 seconds into overtime as the Mudbugs defeated the Indianapolis Ice 4-3 in Game 2 of their Northern Conference Semifinals series on Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. After going 63 regular season games without a goal, Wes Blevins opened the scoring at 12:14 of the first period with a wrist shot from the slot that beat Ice goaltender Brent Zelenewich for a 1-0 Mudbugs advantage. Three minutes into the second period, Jared Dumba tied the game with his first goal of the playoffs after taking a nice centering pass from former Mudbug Dave Gilmore. However, Chad Spurr answered just six minutes later in a four-on-four situation with a breakaway goal after a quick lead pass from Quade Lightbody. Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Ice received exactly what they were looking for early in the final frame as Jason Baird found a rebound in front of Ken Carroll for his first goal of the playoffs just 22 seconds in. Then it was Jared Dumba again who scored a four-on-four goal at 9:33 to give the Ice their first lead of the series. However, just thirty seconds later, Craig Minard took a touch-pass from Craig Soke and skated into the high slot with a wrist shot that beat Zelenewich for the tying goal. Fifty seconds into overtime, Brassard took a Chad Spurr pass just inside the Ice blue line and fired a one-timer past Zelenewich for the game-winning goal in front of 4,588 roaring fans.
MUDBUGS STARS OF THE WEEK
Chad Spurr â Returned to the lineup on Friday and leads the Mudbugs with four points in two playoff games
Ken Carroll â Improved to 5-0 in career playoff overtime games with 42 saves on Saturday
Chris Brassard â Scored his third overtime goal of 2003-2004 on Saturday in Game 2 (Had two in the regular season)
AROUND THE CHL â Four teams, including the Mudbugs, lead their best-of-five semifinals series 2-0 after the first weekend of playoff action around the CHL. Elsewhere in the Northern Conference, Wichita traveled to Colorado and took both games with two impressive comebacks and strong goaltending from Nathan Grobins. In the South, Laredo's Steve Weidlich scored in overtime of Game 1 and Mike Amodeo scored a hat trick in Game 2 to give the Bucks a 2-0 series edge over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Also, Amarillo's Shawn Degagne has allowed just one goal in two games and the Gorillas lead the San Angelo Saints 2-0 after two wins in San Angelo.
THIS WEEK â On Saturday, the Mudbugs will travel to Indianapolis for Game 3 of their semifinals series. The game will be broadcast on KWKH AM 1130 starting at 5:40 p.m. CST. Game 4, if necessary, will be at 4:00 p.m. CST on Sunday. For more information on playoff ticket packages and scheduling, please call 318-752-BUGS.
MUDBUGS vs. INDIANAPOLIS ICE â Northern Conference Semifinals (Mudbugs Lead 2-0)
Game 1 â Friday March 19th at Bossier-Shreveport: 3-2 W
Game 2 â Saturday March 20th at Bossier-Shreveport: 4-3 W (OT)
Game 3 â Saturday March 27th at Indianapolis: 6:00 p.m. CST - KWKH AM 1130
Game 4 â Sunday March 28th at Indianapolis (if necessary): 4:00 p.m. CST â KWKH AM 1130
Game 5 â Tuesday March 30th at Bossier-Shreveport (if necessary): 7:05 p.m.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2004
- Mudbugs Week in Review - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Series shifts to Circle City this weekend - Indianapolis Ice
- Bucks & Law Out & About - Laredo Bucks
- Gorillas sweep first two games - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder continue third period magic - Wichita Thunder
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