Mudbugs Weekly

Published on April 19, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Northern Conference Finals: #3 Bossier-Shreveport vs. #1 Rapid City

Game 3: Wednesday, April 14 CenturyTel Center L 3-2 (OT)

SERIES NOTES: Amateur defenseman Corey Laurysen scored on a long shot through traffic at 15:35 of overtime to give Rapid City a 3-2 victory over the Mudbugs in Game 3 of the Northern Conference Finals Wednesday at the CenturyTel Center. The victory gave Rapid City a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Goaltenders Parker Van Buskirk and Danny Battochio held the spotlight for much of this one, combining for 76 saves. Both Mudbugs goals came on the powerplay as Jeff Kyrzakos and Chris St. Croix each scored to erase one-goal deficits.

Game 4: Friday, April 16 CenturyTel Center W 6-1

SERIES NOTES: The Mudbugs scored three even strength goals and three powerplay goals on their way to a 6-1 victory over Rapid City in Game 4 of the Northern Conference Finals Friday at the CenturyTel Center. The victory tied the series at two for Bossier-Shreveport Game 5. Parker Van Buskirk stopped 30 of 31 shots and kept Rapid City off the scoreboard until late in the third period to earn his second win in goal. Shawn Limpright scored one goal and set up two others, while Jamie Milam scored two powerplay goals and Travis Clayton also had a goal and an assist.

Game 5: Saturday, April 17 CenturyTel Center L 4-1

SERIES NOTES: Rapid City took a 3-2 series lead over the Mudbugs with a 4-1 victory in Game 5 of the Northern Conference Finals Saturday at the CenturyTel Center. With the game tied at one entering the third period, the Rush scored twice in the third before adding a late empty-net goal to seal the win. Justin Aikins scored the lone goal for the 'Bugs, who were held to a single tally for the first time this postseason. Danny Battochio stopped 32 shots for Rapid City as the Mudbugs outshot the Rush 33-31 on the night. Parker Van Buskirk made 27 saves for Bossier-Shreveport, but dropped to 2-2.

THIS WEEK

Northern Conference Finals: Rapid City Leads Series 3-2

Game 6: Tuesday, April 20 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 7:35 pm

Game 7: Wednesday, April 21 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 7:35 pm

SERIES NOTES: The Mudbugs return to the Black Hills needing a win in Game 6 of the Northern Conference Finals to keep their season alive. Bossier-Shreveport will face elimination for the first time this year Tuesday after falling in Game 5 at home, while a pair of wins in Rapid City this week would secure them a berth in the President's Cup Finals for the sixth time in franchise history. The 'Bugs are 3-1-2 all-time at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center including regular season and playoffs, splitting all three sets of back-to-back games they have played in the Rush's home arena. In their last 12 elimination games dating back to 2004, the Mudbugs are 6-6.

WEEKLY NOTES

Backs Against the Wall

For the first time in 2010, the Mudbugs will face elimination Tuesday when they step on the ice for Game 6 of the Northern Conference Finals. In Game 5, the Rush broke a 1-1 tie in the third period with three goals in the final stanza to win 4-1 and bring a 3-2 series lead back with them to Rapid City. Needing back-to-back victories at the raucous Rushmore Plaza Civic Center to overcome the series deficit and advance, the 'Bugs can look to their substantial road success this year as a source of confidence. Including regular season and playoffs, Bossier-Shreveport has gone 22-9-5 away from the CenturyTel Center this season and was second only to Governors' Cup Champion Odessa among CHL teams in regular season road record.

The North Finals Open Up

Before last weekend, all of the first three games of this series had been decided by one goal and only one game between the Mudbugs and Rush this year had been determined by more than one (a 4-2 'Bugs win here in Rapid on January 9). That trend changed radically in Games 4 and 5 when Bossier-Shreveport skated to a 6-1 win on Friday and Rapid City answered with a three-goal 4-1 victory on Saturday. Game 4 was the first Mudbugs playoff

game in three years to be decided by more than two goals, and Game 5 marked the first time since 2001 that two straight 'Bugs postseason games had been decided by a combined margin greater than seven goals.

Offense Stalls

Going into Game 5, the Mudbugs had moved into first place in the CHL playoffs in both goals for (3.88) and goals against (2.63) per game. The 'Bugs were then limited to only one score for the first time in the playoffs on Saturday night despite putting 33 shot on Rush goaltender Danny Battochio. Bossier-Shreveport was also held without a powerplay goal for the first time in the playoffs in Game 5, missing on three opportunities with the man-advantage. The Mudbugs have scored at least four goals in six of their nine playoff games here in 2010.

Playing with Power

Despite being held off the scoresheet in Game 5, the Mudbugs' powerplay has been exceptional in the playoffs, converting on 14 of 46 opportunities for a success rate of over 30%. The Mudbugs have scored multiple powerplay goals in six of out of nine postseason games and had done it in five straight contests prior to Saturday night. At the other end of the ice, the 'Bugs have killed off 20 of 21 Rush powerplays in the series, giving up only a 5-on-3 goal in the first period of Game 2.

Spreading the Wealth

Through nine playoff games, the Mudbugs have nine players who have chipped in at least six points and 14 of the team's 17 skaters have scored at least one goal. Shawn Limpright and Joe Blaznek are the club's leading playoff scorers with 10 points apiece, while Travis Clayton is also averaging one point-per-game. Clayton and Limpright are tied for the team lead with four playoff goals, while Blaznek is pacing the 'Bugs with eight assists.

PVB Shows his Mettle

Goaltender Parker Van Buskirk has faced the playoff pressure and stepped up between the pipes in the absence of both Ken Carroll and John DeCaro. Van Buskirk has the best goals-against average of any CHL goaltender to make it past the first round of the playoffs and 2.36 and ranks second in the postseason with a .924 saves percentage. The 22-year-old netminder stopped 30 shots Friday in Game 4 and carried a shutout into the last six minutes of the game to earn his second win of the playoffs. He then stopped 27 shots in Saturday's Game 5 loss. Van Buskirk signed as the Mudbugs' emergency goalie when John DeCaro was lost for the playoffs with a long-term injury in the Colorado series.

Playoff Performer

Forward Travis Clayton had a team high six-game playoff point streak snapped Game 5. Clayton ranks third on the club with nine points in the playoffs on four goals and five assists and has been Bossier-Shreveport's best playoff performer over the past two seasons. In 16 career playoff games in purple and teal, #38 has scored 11 goals and added nine assists for a total of 20 points.

Going Both Ways

After helping Bossier-Shreveport finish with the fewest goals against in the CHL this season, the 'Bugs defensive corps has made big contributions offensively in the playoffs. 11 of the 32 goals scored by the Mudbugs in the playoffs have come from defensemen, accounting for over one-third of the team's offensive production. Jamie Milam scored twice in Game 4 to tie Dave Pszenyczny for the team lead among D-men with three playoff goals, while Simon Mangos and Clay Plume have each chipped in two. Chris St. Croix ranks fourth on the team in playoff scoring with eight points (1g, 7a), giving him just under a point-per-game average.

The Second Season in its Third Phase

With six playoffs wins so far in 2010, the 'Bugs are halfway to reaching their goal of 12 postseason victories this season, an accomplishment which, if completed, would end an eight-year Championship drought and earn the team its fourth President's Cup. Against Colorado, the Mudbugs won a best-of-seven series for the first time since 2007, and they are now looking to get back to the President's Cup Finals for the first time since falling to Laredo in 2006.

In Case of (Another) Emergency...

With John DeCaro out for the playoffs and Ken Carroll also nursing an injury, the Mudbugs have brought in amateur goaltender Torrie Jung to back-up Parker Van Buskirk. Jung, 21, recently completed his fourth season in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The 'Bugs have also signed amateur forward Adam Basford, who played junior for Surrey of the BCHL and Vancouver in the WHL.

Loose Pucks

The Mudbugs are 4-1 all-time in playoff Game 6's... Both previous times the 'Bugs have trailed a series 3-2, they won Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7... Game 3 was Rapid City's first win at CenturyTel Center and the Mudbugs' first home loss since March 6... F Joe Blaznek has 14 assists and 17 points in 16 playoff games with the 'Bugs... F Joe Ori has 19 points (7g, 13a) in his last 20 playoff games dating back to 2008... F Brett Smith has 12 points (6g, 6a) in his last 13 playoff games... the Mudbugs have been outshot by their opponent in seven of nine playoff games... The 'Bugs are now 11-5 all-time in playoff Game 5's...

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.

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

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2010


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