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Mudbugs Weekly

April 4, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Game 1: Friday, April 1 CenturyTel Center W 3-2

GAME NOTES: David Rutherford scored two goals and the Mudbugs overcame two deficits to edge Arizona 3-2 in Game 1 of the Berry Conference Opening Round Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. Special teams were the difference in Game 1 as Bossier-Shreveport scored two powerplay goals on six chances and put up a stifling 6-6 penalty killing effort. Rutherford's first tally tied the game in the second period, while his second put the ‚¬ËœBugs ahead for good. Jeff Kyrzakos notched the other Mudbugs goal and Ryan Munce made 27 saves to win his first playoff appearance with the club.

Game 2: Saturday, April 2 CenturyTel Center L 2-1 (OT)

GAME NOTES: Luke Erickson scored at 4:08 of overtime to give the Arizona Sundogs a 2-1 victory over the Mudbugs in Game 2 of their Berry Conference Opening Round playoff series Saturday at the CenturyTel Center. The best-of-five series is now tied at one game apiece going into Game 3 Tuesday in Arizona. Scoring chances were at a premium in the low-scoring affair as the teams combined for 54 shots and just three powerplays between them. Shawn Limpright scored the lone goal for Bossier-Shreveport off an assist from Jeff Kyrzakos and Ryan Munce made 27 saves in the loss.

THIS WEEK

Game 3: Tuesday, April 5 Tim's Toyota Center 9:05 pm

Game 4: Wednesday, April 6 Tim's Toyota Center 9:05 pm

Game 5*: Saturday, April 9 CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

* if necessary

SERIES NOTES: The Mudbugs and Sundogs will resume their best-of-five Opening Round playoff series in Prescott Valley, Arizona with Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday. The series is currently tied at one game apiece after a pair of one-goal results in the first two games last weekend at the CenturyTel Center. Tuesday's Game 3 winner will have a chance to close out the series on Wednesday, while the loser will try to extend the series to a deciding Game 5 Saturday back in Bossier City. The ‚¬ËœBugs have not played at the Tim's Toyota Center since sweeping a back-to-back set from the defending Champion Sundogs there in February of 2009.

WEEKLY NOTES

Second Season Underway

After winning 37 times during the 2010-11 regular season and notching a "W" in their first playoff game last night, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are focused on earning 13 more victories to end a nine-year Championship drought and win their fourth President's Cup. 2011 is the 13th playoff appearance in 14 seasons of existence for the ‚¬ËœBugs, who are hoping to return to the President's Cup Finals for the first time since 2006 this year. In 133 all-time playoff games, the Mudbugs own a postseason winning percentage just over 60% with 80 victories and 53 losses.

What a Difference a Week Makes

It didn't take long for the word "playoffs" to tighten up the game considerably in the first two outings of this series, both of which have come down to the wire and been decided by a single tally. Although Bossier-Shreveport had an average of 6.39 combined goals scored in their 66 regular season games and Arizona was close to seven (6.92 combined gpg), the teams have scored just eight goals between them in the first two games of this series combined. After a 3-2 final score in Game 1 and a tighter-still 2-1 overtime decision in Game 2, the ‚¬ËœBugs and ‚¬ËœDogs are averaging a combined four goals-per game in the series so far.

Clayton & the CLiK Line Shine at Playoff Time

The Mudbugs' forward line of Travis Clayton, Shawn Limpright and Jeff Kyrzakos was hot down the stretch in the regular season and has accounted for two of Bossier-Shreveport's four goals in this series. Limpright and Kyrzakos each had a goal and an assist in the first two games of the series, while Clayton fired nine shots on net and helped generate a number of scoring chances despite not recording a point. Clayton has enjoyed at least a share of the team lead in playoff scoring in each of the last two postseasons, totaling 21 points on 12 goals and nine assists in 20 playoff games as a Mudbug. The 14-year veteran boasts a career total of 68 points in 77 career postseason games with Wichita and Bossier-Shreveport. Limpright also tied for the team lead in playoff scoring last year with ten points, while Kyrzakos had eight.

Home Streak Snapped, Now to the Road

Saturday's Game 2 loss snapped Bossier-Shreveport's longest home winning streak of the season when you include their last five home games of the regular season and Friday's playoff opener. That streak marked the first time this season the Mudbugs had won six straight home games, with their longest prior home winning streak being five straight wins. Although they were just one game over .500 at home a month ago at 13-12-1, that closing run gave the ‚¬ËœBugs a regular season home record of 19-13-1, good for fourth best in the Berry Conference. Their road record of 18-13-2 ranked even better among the league's 18 clubs, with only three CHL teams posting more victories than the Mudbugs away from home. Bossier-Shreveport has now won at least 18 road games in each of the last six regular seasons.

Getting to Know You

Last weekend the Mudbugs and Sundogs opened the playoffs with their first head-to-head meetings in 16 months, giving an interesting twist to this best-of-five Opening Round series. Before Game 1 the ‚¬ËœBugs had faced the Sundogs only four times during Arizona's five years of existence, with their last head-to-head game coming back on December 1, 2009. The ‚¬ËœBugs won that game 6-0 to improve to 3-1 all-time against the ‚¬ËœDogs in the regular season. The season prior, Bossier-Shreveport swept a back-to-back set of games at the Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona by scores of 4-3 and 6-3 in February 2009. The Sundogs won the first-ever game between the clubs 3-1 on January 3, 2009 here at the CTC.

Goaltenders in Playoff Form

Both John DeCaro and Ryan Munce enter the playoffs on the strength of strong performances late in the regular season. DeCaro was named the CHL's Goaltender of the Month for March after going 4-1 with a 1.78 GAA and a .937 SV% during the last month of the regular season. With wins in nine of his last 13 starts, DeCaro (20-12-1) reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time in his five-year pro career. Munce (5-3-1) has made quite an impact since joining the ‚¬ËœBugs in February, recording six wins and two shutouts in his last nine starts including last weekend. Over the last two months of the regular season, the Mudbugs went from an average of 3.16 goals-against per game to just 2.92, jumping them from ninth to fourth in the CHL.

Loose Pucks

The ‚¬ËœBugs have won 13 of 14 All-time series when they win Game 1... The Mudbugs have won six of their last eight road playoff games... Bossier-Shreveport is 2 for 8 on the powerplay and 7 for 7 on the penalty kill so far in the playoffs... Shawn Limpright has 18 points (7g, 11) in his last 16 games... Andy Contois had an assist in Game 1 to give him points in ten of his last 13 games...

The ‚¬ËœBugs are 29-1 when leading after two periods including their Game 1 victory...

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 4, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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