Northern Conference Powers Set to Collide Thursday
February 27, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Thursday night at CenturyTel Center , it's an important Central Hockey League match-up of the top two teams in the Northern Conference. Join us at 7:05 pm at the CenturyTel Center as the Mudbugs, the top team in the CHL, play host to the third-best team in the league standings, the Rocky Mountain Rage.
Bossier-Shreveport will be looking to start a new win streak after a close 3-2 loss in Mississippi on Tuesday night that snapped their run of six straight victories. The Mudbugs only need seven more points to clinch their fifth consecutive Northeast Division title and currently hold a nine point advantage on Rocky Mountain for the number one spot in the Northern Conference. All but two of the 12 remaining games on the Bugs' schedule are against teams who are either in the playoffs or in the hunt for a playoff spot. Thursday's game will be the first of two late-season meetings between the Mudbugs and the Rage at CenturyTel Center , with the other being the regular season finale on March 22nd.
This game will pit strength versus strength for these two CHL heavyweights. Rocky Mountain brings with it one of the most potent offensive attacks in the league, while Bossier-Shreveport possesses by far the most stifling defense the CHL has to offer. Both the top goal scorer and top assist man in the league skate for the Rage: Daymen Rycroft leads the CHL with 44 goals this year and has 76 total points, while Captain Brent Cullaton's 65 assists pace the league as well and his 80 points rank him fourth among all CHL scorers. Rocky Mountain is in the midst of a tough divisional battle with the Colorado Eagles, who won last night to pull back within two points of Rocky Mountain in the Northwest Division. After an inaugural season that saw them win just 17 games, the Rage has been one of the top teams all season in 2007-08.
The teams have met once already this season, back on December 7th at the Broomfield Events Center . Bossier-Shreveport jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period in that game before Rocky Mountain rallied and then took the lead with three second period goals. Chris Brassard's second goal of the game tied it at four halfway through the third period and the game went to overtime. Despite a powerplay chance in the overtime period, the Mudbugs couldn't get the winning score and the contest went to a shootout. Scott Wray netted the only goal of the shootout to complete a hat trick and finish out a 5-4 Rocky Mountain victory.
Individual tickets for this important match-up are available through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700 and group seats can be purchased through the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.
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