Oilers Take Game 1 on OT Powerplay Goal
April 15, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Tulsa Oilers were given a powerplay opportunity just 1:12 into overtime and Tom Dignard scored a powerplay goal 40 seconds later to complete a 5-4 victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in Game 1 of their Berry Conference Semifinal playoff series Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs now trail the best-of-fives set 0-1 heading into Game 2 of the series Saturday at the CTC.
The teams combined for eight goals in the first two periods of an exciting series-opening game before the play tightened in the third. Simon Mangos and David Rutherford both had a goal and an assist, while Shawn Limpright and amateur forward Nick Layton each tallied two assists.
After skating to a 10-4 shot advantage to start the opening period, the âBugs took the lead when Simon Mangos got to a centering feed from Shawn Limpright, poked it between the defenseman's skates and beat Trevor Cann low to the glove side to make it 1-0 at 10:31. Less than a minute later however, former NHLer Bates Battaglia received a long cross-ice feed from Chad Costello and put it into the top corner to tie the game for Tulsa. The Oilers then took a 2-1 lead into the locker room as Jack Combs tapped a loose rebound just over the goal line at 15:19.
Tulsa went up 3-1 on a pretty play in the middle frame when Luke Lucyk deposited a great back-door feed from Gary Steffes. The Mudbugs' powerplay unit got them back within one right away at 8:41 on Jeff Kyrzakos' tip-in of a point blast from Limpright. David Rutherford overpowered Cann with a long transition slapshot six minutes later to draw the âBugs even at 3-3.
The Oilers re-took the lead late in the second as Ryan Munce made a save in traffic only to have Battaglia stuff in the rebound with 2:01 remaining. Just 21 seconds later however, Nick Layton held a puck in at the Tulsa blueline and got it to Rutherford on the turnover. Rutherford's cross-ice feed was then rifled into the top corner over Cann's glove by Justin Aikins to knot to game at four after two periods.
The offensive fireworks cooled in the third as the teams combined for a game-low 18 shots in the period. Offensive chances were at a premium and the âBugs missed on one powerplay chance before the game went to overtime. Right off a faceoff in the Tulsa zone, Justin Aikins was whistled for hooking and the Oilers went on the powerplay. Dignard's long point shot then made its way through traffic and into the net just 40 seconds into the man-advantage to give Tulsa the 5-4 victory.
Ryan Munce (1-2) has now suffered back-to-back overtime defeats after stopping 25 shots in Game 1. Trevor Cann (4-1) made 37 saves in the win as the âBugs outshot the Oilers 41-30. Bossier-Shreveport finished 1 for 4 on the powerplay, while Tulsa went 1 for 5.
The teams will be right back at it Saturday night with Game 2 of the series, which is set for 7:05 pm at the CenturyTel Center. Bossier-Shreveport will be looking to tie the series at one Saturday before traveling to Tulsa for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Mudbugs playoff packages and group tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at 318-752-BUGS or in person at the team office inside the CenturyTel. Single game playoff tickets are also available now and can be purchased at the CenturyTel Center box office, through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For all the latest team news and information, visit www.mudbugshockey.com.
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