Rush Again Edge 'Bugs in OT
April 14, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release
BOSSIER CITY, LA - Defenseman Corey Laurysen scored on a long shot through traffic at 15:35 of overtime to give the Rapid City Rush a 3-2 victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in Game 3 of the Northern Conference Finals Wednesday night at the CenturyTel Center. The victory gives Rapid City a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes on Friday night with Game 4.
Goaltenders Parker Van Buskirk and Danny Battochio held the spotlight for much of this one, combining for 76 saves. Both Mudbugs goals came on the powerplay as Jeff Kyrzakos and Chris St. Croix each scored to erase one-goal deficits.
The teams played a scoreless opening period for the first time in the series despite combining for 24 shots. The âBugs ended up with 13 of those shots and had a number of good scoring chances. Van Buskirk stopped 11 shots in the first frame, including a highlight-reel glove save on Derek LeBlanc late in the period.
Rapid City opened the scoring at 6:20 of the second period when Luke Fritshaw's wrister from the blueline snuck through traffic and into the top corner to give the Rush a 1-0 advantage. The âBugs answered with a powerplay goal just 88 seconds later as Shawn Limpright found Jeff Kyrzakos for a back-door tap-in to tie the game at one after 40 minutes.
The Rush went back on top midway through the third on a nice shot from LeBlanc, who beat Van Buskirk just under the crossbar at 9:20 to put the visitors up 2-1. Again the âBugs tied it up with a powerplay goal as Chris St. Croix sent a long shot along the ice through traffic and then through Battochio's legs to make it a 2-2 game at 13:01. Bossier-Shreveport picked up momentum late in regulation, but couldn't solve Battochio to go in front.
The Mudbugs were outshot 9-8 in overtime and had a powerplay chance when LeBlanc was whistled for holding, but couldn't net their third powerplay goal of the night. Then with Rapid City in the âBugs zone, Laurysen picked up the puck along the boards and threw it toward the net, where it traveled past a number of skates before finding its way into the net for the winning goal.
Parker Van Buskirk drops to 1-1 in the playoffs despite making 39 saves, while Danny Battochio stopped 37 shots in the win as the Rush outshot the âBugs 42-39. Bossier-Shreveport finished 2 for 6 on the powerplay and held Rapid City to a 0-for-4 powerplay effort with solid penalty killing.
The Mudbugs will now look to get even in the series once again in Game 4, which is set for Friday night at 7:05 pm at the CenturyTel Center. Game 5 will follow on Saturday night, also at 7:05 at the CTC.
Special group ticket packages and Mudbugs single game playoff tickets are on sale now. For more information, call the team office at 752-BUGS or visit www.mudbugshockey.com. Individual tickets to all Mudbugs home games are available at the CenturyTel Center main box office, through Ticketmaster at (318) 741-9700 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2010
- Americans Hand Jackalopes 5-2 Loss to Take 2-1 Series Lead - Allen Americans
- Amateur Corey Laurysen Nets OT Winner as Rush Top Mudbugs 3-2 in Game 3 of Conference Finals - Rapid City Rush
- Rush Again Edge 'Bugs in OT - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Americans Take Game Two by a 5-2 Final - Odessa Jackalopes
- Mudbugs Add Goaltender, Amateur Forward - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Online Game Worn Jersey Auction Begins Today - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Shots From The Point - CHL
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