Sports stats



Pszenyczny's OT Winner Ties Series for Mudbugs

March 25, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - Dave Pszenyczny's winning goal at 10:55 of overtime helped the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs earn a 5-4 victory over the Rocky Mountain Rage in Game 2 of the Northern Conference Opening Round series Wednesday night at the CenturyTel Center. The overtime goal tied the series at one game apiece and forced a deciding Game 3 tomorrow night in Bossier City at 6:05 pm.

The Mudbugs rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie the game and eventually win it to snap a seven-game playoff losing streak. Travis Clayton had another big night for Bossier-Shreveport, scoring twice and adding an assist for his second straight three-point game. Pszenyczny also had an assist in addition to his overtime game-winning goal.

Ken Carroll was quickly tested in the game's opening seconds, stopping Rocky Mountain's Daymen Rycroft with a diving two-pad stack just 21 seconds into the game and turning aside four more shots on the ensuing Rage powerplay. The ‘Bugs then opened the scoring with a powerplay goal. Simon Mangos skated all the way around the net from the right point to the left point before deking a Rage defender and finding a wide open Ori, who redirected a pass into the net to make it 1-0 Mudbugs. Rocky Mountain answered though when David Morelli knocked in the rebound of Nathan O'Nabigon's shot later in the first to tie the game at one.

The ‘Bugs retook the lead early in the second period right after a powerplay had expired. Travis Clayton won a faceoff in the offensive zone right back to J.R. Bria and then drove front of the net. When Bria's shot was stopped by Scott Reid, Clayton was there to pick up the rebound and fire it home to make it 2-1 for Bossier-Shreveport. The Mudbugs killed off two more Rage powerplays and appeared to be headed into the locker room with a one-goal lead when Rocky Mountain tied it up. O'Nabigon carried the puck out of the corner and beat Carroll between his legs to make it a 2-2 game with just 54 seconds left in the period.

The Rage then took their first lead of the game just 11 seconds into overtime when Daymen Rycroft set up Colt King's tap-in goal that put Rocky Mountain on top 3-2. A few minutes later, Scott Wray found the top corner with a hard shot during a Rage 2-on-1 break that stretched their lead to 4-2. The ‘Bugs then started to battle back and took control of the third period. Mark Johnson was racing through the neutral zone when Chris Brassard hit him with a pass that sent him into the Rocky Mountain end. Johnson blew by a Rage defender and beat Reid with a stick-side backhander that pulled Bossier-Shreveport back within one at the 10:40 mark. Then with time ticking away and the Mudbugs on the powerplay, Neil Clark took a shot from the circle that was stopped by Reid. Before Rocky Mountain could clear, Travis Clayton pounced on the rebound and put in his second goal of the night to tie the game at four with just 2:47 left in regulation. The ‘Bugs then killed off a late Rage powerplay to force the overtime period.

Rocky Mountain had a great chance early in the OT, hitting the right post behind Carroll before the puck landed underneath him to end the threat. Then just over the halfway point of the overtime, the ‘Bugs were controlling in the offensive zone when Kevin Cooper put a long shot on net. Reid came out to challenge the shot and stopped it, but couldn't find a loose puck underneath him. Cooper and Clayton dug the puck out before Pszenyczny swooped in to pick it up. Pszenyczny's initial backhand shot was stopped by a diving Rage defender, but he dove to poke in his own rebound and win the game for Bossier-Shreveport.

Carroll made 24 saves in the victory as the Mudbugs again outshot the Rage heavily, this time by a 44-28 margin. Reid stopped 39 shots but took the loss in goal for Rocky Mountain. The ‘Bugs went 2 for 10 on the powerplay, while the Rage were 0 for 6.

The teams will now play a deciding Game 3 of the Northern Conference Opening Round series Thursday night at 6:05 pm at the CenturyTel Center. The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the Northern Conference Semifinals to take on the Colorado Eagles, while the season will be over for whoever loses the contest. Individual tickets for Game 3 are available at the CenturyTel Center main box office, by calling 318-741-9700 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Group ticket packages for all Mudbugs playoff action are available at the team office inside CenturyTel Center Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm or by calling 318-752-BUGS.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2009


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.

Other Recent Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central