Mudbugs Weekly
February 5, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
MUDBUGS RALLY TO OUST RIVERKINGS 3-2 ON FRIDAY
Three unanswered goals and the playmaking ability of Karlis Zirnis helped the Mudbugs grind past the Memphis RiverKings and gain ground in the Northeast Division standings on Friday night. Zirnis set up Joe Ori and Daniel Pegoraro in front of the net for the final two Mudbug goals of the evening. Kyle Musselman's fight with Doug MacIver in the first period helped to spring the offense into action with Cam Abbott's goal following only minutes later. John DeCaro stopped 24 of 26 shots in route to his eighth straight win.
GRITTY DEFENSE PREVAILS IN SECOND GAME AGAINST MEMPHIS
The Mudbugs backed Friday's win with an even better showing on Saturday night. The Bugs shutout the Memphis RiverKings for all but thirty seconds of game clock in one of John DeCaro's best games of the year. The rookie netminder stopped 36 of 37 shots on goal to help the Mudbugs gain their sixth win against the RiverKings in their last seven meetings. The Mudbugs penalty kill kept the second best team power play off the score sheet for the second straight night. Forbes MacPherson scored the first goal of the game on a rebound in the first period. In the second period, Chris Brassard skated straight out of the penalty box and beat Larry Sterling in one of the prettiest individual scoring efforts of the season. He deked the goaltender and sent a backhand shot top shelf for the Mudbugs' second goal. The Bugs now sit only 7 points out of first place overall and four points behind second place Youngstown.
MUDBUGS STARS OF THE WEEK
JOHN DECARO - Red hot goaltending of last week carried over for his fifth and sixth consecutive wins.
CHRIS BRASSARD - Saturday's second period goal proved to be the game winner after a tight third period of play.
KYLE MUSSELMAN - His fight against a much larger Doug MacIver acted as the spark that lit the offensive fire on Friday night.
WINNING WAYS
The Mudbugs recorded a season high sixth win in a row with their victory over Memphis on Saturday night. The stretch is even more impressive when looking back all the way to late December where the team has won 16 of their last 19 games overall.
SPREADING IT OUT
The Mudbugs have managed to win more unconventionally than other teams at the top the CHL. While teams like Laredo, Memphis and Colorado have two to three standout players that have eclipsed over 40 points, the Bugs have done so with a more balanced attack. All six of the top Mudbug scorers have posted numbers in the 30 point range.
DECARO BACK IN THE AHL
The Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL have recalled goaltender John DeCaro to re-join the team for stint of games beginning on Wednesday. It's the second time DeCaro has been called up, having joined the Phantoms on December 30th for a game against the Lowell Devils. Adam Hanna will serve as starting goaltender in his absence.
NEXT POWERPLAY WITH SCOTT MUSCUTT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH-
Power Play with Scott Muscutt will resume on Monday, February 19th after the Mudbugs six game road trip through Ohio and Colorado. The show will air at 6 PM from Buffalo Wild Wings at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. The next show after that is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7th.
MUDBUGS ON THE RADIO
Thursday, February 8th (at Youngstown SteelHounds) - 5:45 PM on 1130 KWKH
Saturday, February 9th (at Youngstown SteelHounds) - 5:45 PM on 1130 KWKH
Sunday, February 10th (at Youngstown SteelHounds) - 5:45 PM on 1130 KWKH
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD -
The Mudbugs begin their longest road trip of the year as they head east for a three game set in Youngstown beginning this Thursday, February 8th. The Bugs will then head west to Colorado following the game on Saturday night. First, it's the Colorado Eagles on Wednesday, Valentine's Day evening. Then it's a quick trip down the highway to face the Rocky Mountain Rage on Thursday, February 15th. The Bugs wrap up their Colorado trip with a Saturday night game against the Colorado Eagles on February 17th. All games face off at 8:05 central time. Group tickets are available for the following Tuesday as the Mudbugs will host the Corpus Christi Rayz at CenturyTel Center. Call the front office for group tickets at (318) 752-BUGS.
MUDBUGS RECORD THIS WEEK: (2-0-0)
OVERALL RECORD: (26-11-5)
2nd place in the Northeast Division (57 pts.)
4TH Overall in the CHL Standings
HOME RECORD: (17-4-0)
ROAD RECORD (9-7-5)
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2007
- Oakley CHL Player and Goaltender of the Week Announced - CHL
- Eagles Week in Review - Colorado Eagles
- Jeff Christian named CHL Player of the Week - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Mudbugs Weekly - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Thunder drops pair of shootouts - Wichita Thunder
- Hughes Returns as Ice Bats Coach - Austin Ice Bats
- Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update - Rocky Mountain Rage
- My Big Fat Youngstown Wedding Scheduled for Saturday - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Kevin Watters tonight's guest on Rayz Round-Up - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Five Games, Two Foes - Tulsa Oilers
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