CHL Central Hockey League

Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals Game 4 Recap

May 19, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


In a back-and-forth game that essentially a 'must-win' for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, overtime was needed to determine the winner and give the Finals a new look as the clubs are deadlocked at two wins apiece through four games thanks to the 'Bugs 5-4 win over the Colorado Eagles.

Jeff Kyrzakos scored his league playoff leading 11th goal in the overtime giving his club new life and making the series a best-of-3 now.

The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard just over a minute into the game as a bouncing puck seemed to fool ‚¬ËœBugs goalie John DeCaro who lost site of the play leaving the net open to his left for Steve Haddon to knock a puck in for his sixth goal of the playoffs and first since April 29. Adam Hogg and Brett Thurston earned the assists at the 1:07 mark of the opening period.

Colorado had an early chance to build the lead with the game's first power play after a Shawn Limpright penalty but the kill for the Mudbugs seemed to gain a bit of momentum as they got a decent scoring chance with Justin Aikins leading a rush that was thwarted by the Eagles defense.

Amateur Nathan Moon played on the line with Aikins and Nick Layton in place of David Rutherford who was suspended for Game 4 due to an elbowing major penalty he received at the tail-end of Game 3 and it didn't take Moon long to make his presence felt as he tied the score with his first professional goal at the 9:58 mark of the first period.

Bossier-Shreveport came right back after the face-off by taking advantage of a puck that slipped through Eagles goaltender Andrew Penner leaving an empty-net for Limpright to bury a his eighth goal of the season. Jeff Kyrzakos earned the only assist on the score that gave the ‚¬ËœBugs a 2-1 lead.

Penalties took over the late part of the first period with each team getting chances with the man advantage including Bossier-Shreveport having a short 5-on-3 advantage but neither club could score the PP goal as the tally was 2-1 after 20 minutes.

Colorado outshot the Mudbugs 11-9 in the period with DeCaro finishing with 10 saves and Penner seven stops.

In the second period, the Eagles started the frame on the power play but it was even strength they did their damage with the line of Matt Glasser, Adam Hogg and Steve Haddon striking again with Hogg walking around a defenseman near the left circle and beating DeCaro low along the ice. This after the Eagles had the puck hemmed in for a good 40 seconds against a tired group for the Mudbugs. For Hogg, it was his sixth goal of the post-season.

The Eagles regained the lead while shorthanded scoring their fourth SHG of the post-season, the most in the CHL. The goal was netted by Scott May, his second shorthanded goal and seventh strike overall of the post-season. Adam Chorneyko and Jason Beatty had the assists at the 6:34 mark of the period.

Colorado would make the score 4-2 just over three minutes later with Kevin Ulanski scoring his ninth goal of the playoffs and his third in the last two games. This coming after both Riley Nelson and Chorneyko won battles behind the net.

The Mudbugs would make a change in net after the Ulanski score bringing in Ryan Munce as DeCaro would leave with 11 saves on 15 shots.

Bossier-Shreveport would cut the gap to just a goal with 4:42 remaining in the second period with an odd-man rush with both teams skating four aside. Andy Contois would drive the puck up the left wing and center a pass to the driving Simon Mangos who redirected the puck into an open net past Penner for his fourth goal of the post-season.

In the third period, the teams flew up and down the ice both getting chances and both coming within a bounce or a hop from scoring a goal but it was the Mudbugs who took advantage first with Limpright gathering a deflected puck in the slot and wristing it past Penner for his second of the night and ninth of the playoffs. Michael Couch and Brett Smith earned the assists at the 7:47 mark of the period making the score 4-4.

There was a flurry throughout the remainder of the period as the Mudbugs continued to apply pressure and the Eagles found some chances as well hitting a post and a crossbar.

The Mudbugs had a golden opportunity at the end of regulation with a power play chance with less than two minutes remaining but they could not get it done in regulation and would have the PP carry over for 20 seconds in the overtime.

Through 60 minutes, the Eagles outshot the ‚¬ËœBugs 26-22.

The ‚¬ËœBugs started the OT with a power play (carried over from the third period) and were quickly awarded another as Daymen Rycroft was called for a high sticking minor but the ‚¬ËœBugs once again unable to connect.

At the 4:31 mark, the Mudbugs gained new life as Kyrzakos took a pass from behind the net and beat Penner for the game winner giving his team a 5-4 win.

Munce earned the win improving his post-season record to 2-2 stopping all 13 shots he faced.

Game 5 will be Friday night at the CenturyTel Center as the series is guaranteed to go back to Colorado for at least a Game 6.

Follow all the CHL playoff news, notes and happenings on www.centralhockeyleague.com and at the CHL's Playoff Headquarters.



Central Hockey League Stories from May 19, 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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central