Shorthanded \'Bugs Suffer First Loss to Tulsa Since '08

Published on January 15, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


TULSA, OK - Playing with only 13 skaters Saturday night at the BOK Center, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs suffered their first loss to the Tulsa Oilers since the 2007-08 season by a final score of 7-3. Tulsa's first win over Bossier-Shreveport since March 18, 2008 dropped the Mudbugs to 21-14-1 this season and also concluded their three-game season series.

Joe Blaznek and Mitch Love scored goals for the Mudbugs, who had four forwards and a defenseman miss the contest with injuries. The ‘Bugs missed on all six of their powerplay chances and were outscored 5-1 over the last two periods as Tulsa beat them for the first time in ten tries at the BOK Center. Bossier-Shreveport also fired a season-high 40 shots on net in the game, compared with just 23 for the Oilers.

Tulsa jumped out to a quick 1-0 when Chad Costello scored on a clear-cut breakaway just 2:26 in. The Mudbugs answered a few minutes later when Joe Blaznek set up along the boards and rifled a sharp-angle shot over Trevor Cann's shoulder and into the top corner to tie the game at one. Just 31 seconds later, James DeLory and David Rutherford teamed up to feed the puck in front to Mitch Love, who stickhandled around Cann and buried his first goal as a Mudbug to put the visitors on top 2-1. Jack Combs scored for Tulsa less than two minutes later though to tie the game at two after 20 minutes.

Tulsa scored then scored a pair of goals just over one minute apart early in the second frame as Gary Steffes and Braden Walls combined to give the Oilers a 4-2 edge. The Mudbugs missed on their fourth and fifth powerplays of the night in the second frame and then Tyler Fleck extended the Tulsa lead to 5-2 with under two minutes remaining in the second.

Bossier-Shreveport dominated the third period, outshooting Tulsa 18-7 and narrowing the gap when Simon Mangos tucked in a nice pass from Shawn Limpright at 7:22 to make it 5-3. Trevor Cann made a number of sparkling saves down the stretch and would not be beaten again as the Oilers tacked on an empty-net goal from Walls and then another by Fleck with just ten seconds remaining.

John DeCaro (10-5-1) made 16 saves while giving up a number of tough-luck goals, while Cann (6-2-0) held off the comeback with 37 stops. Bossier-Shreveport killed off all three Tulsa powerplays in the game while going 0 for 6 themselves.

The Mudbugs will next travel to Southaven, Mississippi to conclude a season-high six game road swing against the RiverKings Tuesday at 7:05 pm. The ‘Bugs will then return home for a pair of games at the CenturyTel Center next week, Tuesday at 6:35 pm against the Dayton Gems and Saturday at 7:05 versus the rival Laredo Bucks.

Mini-plans and group ticket packages for all Mudbugs home games are available through the Mudbugs office at 752-BUGS. Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700, online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the CenturyTel Center main box office.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2011


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