Mudbugs Weekly

Published on March 29, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Game 1 at Colorado, Friday, March 26 Budweiser Events Center W 4-3 (OT)

SERIES NOTES: Joe Blaznek scored just 42 seconds into overtime to complete a furious rally and lift the Mudbugs to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles in Game 1 of the Northern Conference Semifinals Friday at the Budweiser Events Center. The Mudbugs now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning a Game 1 for the first time in their last eight playoff series. Bossier-Shreveport trailed 3-0 entering the third period, but scored three times in a span of just three minutes to tie it up and force the overtime session. Blaznek then ended the game in the first minute of the extra session to give the 'Bugs a 1-0 series lead for the first time since their opening series in the 2006 playoffs.

Game 2 at Colorado, Saturday, March 27 Budweiser Events Center W 4-3

SERIES NOTES: The Mudbugs took a 2-0 series lead over the Colorado Eagles with a gritty 4-3 victory in Game 2 of the Northern Conference Semifinals Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center. The Mudbugs were outshot 47-23 in the game but scored four times at even strength to take both games in Colorado to start the series. The forward line of Joe Blaznek, Brett Smith and Joe Ori carried the weight for the 'Bugs in Game 2, each finishing with a goal, two assists and a +4 rating. John DeCaro made 18 saves before leaving the game in the first and Ken Carroll stopped another 26 shots to earn the win.

THIS WEEK

Northern Conference Semifinals: Bossier-Shreveport Leads Colorado 2-0

Game 3: Tuesday, March 30 CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

Game 4: Thursday, April 1 CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

Game 5: Friday, April 2 (if nec.) CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

SERIES NOTES: Having opened the series taking both of the first two games in Loveland, Colorado, the Mudbugs now look to carry that momentum back home with them as the series continues this week at the CenturyTel Center. In Tuesday's Game 3, the 'Bugs will look to take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for the first time since 2001, while the Eagles try to avoid falling behind 0-3 for just the second time in team history. The Mudbugs can clinch the series at home with wins in two of the next three games and avoid a return trip to Colorado for Games 6 and 7 of the series.

WEEKLY NOTES

Off to a Good Start

The Mudbugs have started their 2010 playoff run by winning back-to-back road games to start a series for just the third time in franchise history and the first time in nine years. The Mudbugs lead the Colorado Eagles 2-0 after taking a pair of decisions at the Budweiser Events Center, where Colorado was 24-7-1 during the regular season and had won 32 of 43 home playoff games all-time going into the weekend. The 'Bugs now hold a 2-0 series lead for the first time since the 2004 conference semifinals against Wichita. The last time the 'Bugs started a series with two straight road wins was against Austin in 2001, which was also the last time Bossier-Shreveport held a 3-0 series lead.

Clutch 'Bugs

Bossier-Shreveport ended the regular season with one of the CHL's best records in one-goal games this year at 20-6-4, a quality which is crucial whenever the Mudbugs take on the Eagles. The two teams have played each other exceptionally close over the past two years, with each of their past ten meetings being decided by a single goal including regular season and playoffs. Of those ten straight one-goal games, five have gone to overtime and seven have been decided by a final score of 4-3. Including their other two playoff series in 2006 and 2009, ten of 11 all-time playoff games between Bossier-Shreveport and Colorado have been decided by one goal, with the 'Bugs outscoring the Eagles by a slim 32-28 margin in the postseason.

KC to the Rescue

Goaltender John DeCaro was off to a phenomenal start in Saturday's Game 2, stopping 18 shots in less than 14 minutes to keep a hungry Colorado team off the scoreboard before leaving the game with an injury. Fortunately for the 'Bugs, they were able to turn to ten-year veteran netminder Ken Carroll, who came in and promptly turned aside 26 of the 29 shots he faced to help backstop a 4-3 Mudbugs victory. The 2001 President's Cup Champion, who tied Tony Martino as the second-winningest goalie in league history this year, now holds an all-time playoff record of 29-21 in his Mudbugs playoff career.

This Line is B-O-S (S)

The forward line of Joe Blaznek, Joe Ori and Brett Smith was a huge difference-maker for Bossier-Shreveport in Game 2, helping contribute all four of the team's goals in a 4-3 win. All three players finished with one goal, two assists and a +4 rating in the victory, with Dave Pszenyczny chipping in the team's other goal. After scoring the game-winning goal on Saturday, Ori has recorded 17 points (6g, 11a) in his last 13 playoff games dating back to the 2008 postseason. Smith, meanwhile, has racked up ten points (5g, 5a) in his last six playoff games against Colorado. In addition to scoring the overtime game-winning goal in Game 1, Blaznek has totaled 11 points (3g, 8a) in his last nine playoff games.

Breaking the Game 1 Jinx

Friday's come-from-behind win snapped a streak of seven consecutive Game 1 losses for the Mudbugs and put them ahead 1-0 in a series for the first time in four playoff years. Prior to Friday, the 'Bugs had not won Game 1 of a playoff series since topping Wichita 3-2 in overtime in the first game of the 2006 Northern Conference Semifinals. Since that series, Bossier-Shreveport had dropped seven consecutive Game 1's and won only three playoff total series. Saturday's win then improved the 'Bugs to 4-6 in Game 2's since 2004.

Never Say Die

Friday night the Mudbugs completed a stunning comeback in the third period and overtime to take a 1-0 series lead on the Eagles in Game 1. Colorado, who was 33-1-2 when leading after two periods during the regular season, led by three entering the third before the 'Bugs began their rally. With two powerplay goals and a shorthanded tally in a span of just 3:01, Bossier-Shreveport erased the deficit to force overtime, where it took only 42 seconds for Joe Blaznek to bury to game-winner and put the Mudbugs ahead in the best-of-seven series. Including regular season play, the 'Bugs have now come from three goals down to win three times this season and won eight times when trailing after 40 minutes.

The Second Season is Underway

Last weekend the 'Bugs whittled their quest down to ten more wins this season, an accomplishment which, if completed, would earn them the team's fourth President's Cup and end an eight-year Championship drought. Against the Eagles, Bossier-Shreveport is looking to win a best-of-seven series for the first time since the 2007 conference quarterfinals, when they knocked off Wichita in six games before bowing out in the second round. Since that series against the Thunder, the Mudbugs had won just three of their last 16 postseason games prior to this year. The 'Bugs did earn a series win in last year's best-of-three Northern Conference opening round, dispatching the Rocky Mountain Rage in three games.

Powerful Pedigree

This series between the Mudbugs and Eagles represents a matchup of the two most successful teams in the Northern Conference over the past six seasons. Bossier-Shreveport and Colorado are the only two teams to represent the North in the President's Cup Finals in that time and had combined to win the past five Governors' Cup regular season titles before Odessa broke their streak this year. The Mudbugs have won three President's Cups (1999, 2000, '01) and played in five league finals, while the Eagles own a pair of Championships (2005, 07) and have lost in the Cup Finals twice.

Season Series Breakdown

Bossier-Shreveport and Colorado played an exceptionally close season series this year in which the Mudbugs went 1-1-1 vs. the Eagles. In the first of back-to-back games here at the BEC in mid January, the Eagles outshot the 'Bugs 37-24 and won the first meeting 4-3. The next night the Mudbugs rallied from three separate two-goal deficits to tie the game in the final minute of regulation before Ryan McLeod netted Colorado's overtime game-winner in a 5-4 decision. The Eagles then visited Bossier City on January 30 and held a 3-1 lead after two periods, but Simon Mangos and Jeff Kyrzakos scored in the third to get the 'Bugs even and Travis Clayton provided the heroics with an overtime winner of his own as Bossier-Shreveport finished off a 4-3 victory and ended a ten-game losing streak against Colorado.

Loose Pucks

D Dave Pszenyczny has goals in back-to-back games to start the playoffs and five of his last seven games including the end of the regular season... F Travis Clayton has 12 points in his last nine playoff games...G John DeCaro was named the CHL's Goaltender of the Week for the last week of the regular season after going 3-1-0 with a 1.48 GAA and a .939 SV% in four starts... F David Rutherford ended the regular season on a nine-game point streak and had at least one point in 25 of his last 26 games... Mudbugs players combined for a total of 19 two-goal games this year without a single hat trick... G Ken Carroll won 14 games this year to tie Tony Martino for 2nd in CHL history with 187 career victories...

TICKET INFORMATION: Mini-plans and group ticket packages for the 2009-10 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: New for 2009-10 is the latest version of CHL-TV, powered by Insinc Netcasting. Fans will have the chance to watch all 480 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 a month at a time or the entire season. All game archives are offered to catch up on the games you missed for just $3.95. Visit http://chltv.insinc.com for more information.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2010


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