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Mudbugs Weekly for Monday, April 18

April 18, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Berry Conference Semifinals (Best of Five)

#2 Bossier-Shreveport vs. #3 Tulsa: Series Tied 1-1

Game 1: Friday, April 15 CenturyTel Center L 5-4 (OT)

GAME NOTES: The Tulsa Oilers were given a powerplay opportunity just 1:12 into overtime and Tom Dignard scored a powerplay goal 40 seconds later to complete their 5-4 victory over the Mudbugs in Game 1 of their Berry Conference Semifinal series Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. The teams combined for eight goals in the first two periods of an exciting series-opening game before the play tightened in the third. Simon Mangos and David Rutherford both had a goal and an assist, while Shawn Limpright and amateur forward Nick Layton each tallied two assists.

Game 2: Saturday, April 16 CenturyTel Center W 6-1

GAME NOTES: The Mudbugs scored three powerplay goals on their way to a dominating 6-1 victory over Tulsa in a penalty-filled Game 2 of their Berry Conference Semifinal series Saturday at the CenturyTel Center. Simon Mangos assisted on four of Bossier-Shreveport's first five goals and Travis Clayton tacked on three helpers of his own. Jeff Kyrzakos and Clay Plume both contributed "Gordie Howe hat tricks" to the victory with a goal, an assist and a fight each. The Mudbugs scored three powerplay goals on seven opportunities as Tulsa committed three five-minute major penalties and had three players ejected on their way to racking up 67 penalty minutes. The teams combined for over 100 total minutes in penalties between them.

THIS WEEK

Game 3: Tuesday, April 19 BOK Center 7:05 pm

Game 4: Friday, April 22 BOK Center 7:35 pm

Game 5*: Saturday, April 23 CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

* if necessary

SERIES NOTES: The Berry Conference Semifinal series between the Mudbugs and the Oilers now shifts to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a pivotal Game 3 Tuesday night at the BOK Center. With the series tied at one, Tuesday's winner will have a chance to wrap up the series in Tulsa with Game 4 on Friday night. If necessary, a deciding Game 5 would take place Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. Bossier-Shreveport is 9-1 all-time at Tulsa's BOK Center, winning their first nine games in that building from its opening in the fall of 2008 until finally suffering their first loss there this January. The ‚¬ËœBugs have won both their road playoff games this year, while the Oilers are 1-2 on home ice so far the postseason.

WEEKLY NOTES

Best-of-Five Becomes Best-of-Three Tomorrow's game will determine which team has an opportunity to close this series and advance on Friday and which team will be facing elimination in Game 4. In their 14-year history, the Mudbugs have gone on to win eight of 11 all-time series that have been tied 1-1 after two games, including this year's Opening Round series. The ‚¬ËœBugs won a pair of games in Arizona to close out that series over the Sundogs and give them wins in six of their last eight road playoff games. Over the past five playoff seasons dating back to 2007, Bossier-Shreveport is 4-4 in Game 3's. The Mudbugs are also 9-1 all-time at Tulsa's BOK Center, winning in all of their first nine visits before falling to the Oilers there on January 15.

High-Scoring Hockey vs. Tulsa The first two games of this series continued what has been an exceptionally high-scoring Mudbugs season series against Tulsa here in 2010-11. Including the 16 total goals in Games 1 and 2, the teams have combined to score an average of nearly nine goals per game this year after their three regular season matchups ended by final scores of 6-4, 6-2 and 7-3. Tulsa was the CHL's fourth-highest scoring team during the regular season with 3.67 goals per game on average, while Bossier-Shreveport ranked sixth in the league at 3.47 gpg. Furthermore, the two teams were very efficient with their scoring during the regular season, as both posted those strong offensive numbers while ranking among the CHL's bottom three clubs in shots per game.

Nobody's Perfect... but Some are Close The Mudbugs lead all CHL playoff teams on both the powerplay (33.3%) and the penalty kill (96.6%) through six playoff games, surrendering only one powerplay goal while scoring ten of their own against Arizona and Tulsa. The ‚¬ËœBugs killed off all 19 Arizona powerplays in their Opening Round series and have successfully killed nine of ten shorthanded situations so far in this series. Tom Dignard's overtime winner in Game 1 is the only goal an opposing man-advantage has scored on the ‚¬ËœBugs in 29 postseason opportunities thus far. The Mudbugs also notched three more powerplay goals in their 6-1 Game 2 victory over the Oilers to give them ten conversions on 27 powerplay chances so far in the playoffs.

Defense Wins Championships In Game 2 the ‚¬ËœBugs were able to get back to the kind of defensive hockey that carried them through the first round of the playoffs with just 18 shots and one goal against in a 6-1 victory. Bossier-Shreveport, who has surrendered fewer than three goals in five of their six playoff games to date in 2011, leads the CHL playoffs with a 2.00 team-goals against average entering Tuesday's games. In the Mudbugs' last three victories, John DeCaro has stopped 95 of the 98 shots he has faced to take the lead among all CHL playoff goaltenders with a .970 saves percentage and a 1.03 goals-against average. Although he has lost two straight overtime games, Ryan Munce still has a sub-3.00 GAA in four appearances.

Spreading the Wealth Five different Mudbugs are averaging at least one point per game through six playoff games this year, led by seven points apiece for Jeff Kyrzakos, Shawn Limpright, David Rutherford and Simon Mangos, who finished with four assists Saturday in Game 2. Justin Aikins is right at one point per game with six points and enters tonight tied with Kyrzakos for the team lead with four goals. Travis Clayton posted three assists in Game 2, while amateur forward Nick Layton has three helpers in his last two games and leads the team with a +5 rating. 15 of the 18 skaters who have played a game for the Mudbugs in the playoffs have registered at least one point through six games.

Loose Pucks The Mudbugs have averaged 39.25 shots per game in their last four games... The ‚¬ËœBugs are 31-1 this year when leading after two periods... Game 2 was the 50th playoff game of Brett Smith's Mudbugs career. He ranks 6th team history in playoff goals (18), is tied for 8th in assists (19) and 9th in points (37).... Shawn Limpright reached 50 points in his playoff career with a goal in Game 2 and has totaled 23 points (9g, 14a) in his last 20 games overall... The ‚¬ËœBugs and Oilers combined for over 100 total penalty minutes in Game 2... Jeff Kyrzakos and Clay Plume each posted "Gordie Howe hat tricks" in Game 2.... Amateur forward Nathan Moon made his pro hockey debut in Game 2 and was issued a 10-minute misconduct at the final horn... Game 3 vs. Arizona marked the 100th career playoff game for Head Coach Scott Muscutt, who holds a 58-45 all-time playoff record... The ‚¬ËœBugs are 17-15 all-time in playoff overtime games, but have lost six of their last eight...

TICKET INFORMATION: Season tickets, mini-plans and group ticket packages for the 2010-11 season of Mudbugs hockey are available at the team office: 2000 CenturyTel Center Drive, Bossier City, LA 71112. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Individual game tickets can be purchased at the CenturyTel Center box office between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, by calling Ticketmaster at (318) 741-9700, or online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.mudbugshockey.com or call the team office at (318) 752-2847.

MUDBUGS RADIO: Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs games, both home and away, are broadcast live on "The Home of the Legends" AM 1130 KWKH and News Radio 710 AM KEEL in Shreveport. Both stations provide free online streaming online at www.kwkhonline.com and www.710keel.com .

CHL TV: Back for 2010-11 is the latest version of CHL-TV, powered by NeuLion, Inc. Fans will have the chance to watch nearly 600 games on the CHL's regular season schedule for a small pay-per-view price. Packages are available as well that give fans the chance to order only their team's away games, an all-access league pass or many other options. All game archives are offered to catch up on the games you missed for just $4.00. Visit http://chltv.neulion.com/chltv/ for more information.

Season and group tickets are on sale by calling 318-752-BUGS (2847) or by visiting our website at www.mudbugshockey.com .



Central Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2011


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