Mudbugs Hockey Blog

The Mudbugs began their 5 game homestand off on the right skate (foot).  Joe Blaznek started off a three goal 2nd period outburst that proved to be too much for the Texas Brahmas to overcome.

David Rutherford extended his point scoring streak to 5 games, with the game winner. While netminder John DeCaro finished with 28 saves, earning his 12th win of the season. Neither team had any success with the man-advantage, partly because there was only 8 minor infractions whistled between the clubs.  It was an unusually quiet night for such arch rivals.

Texas was first to crack open the scoring with Jason Deitsch forcing a turnover at the Mudbugs blueline and fired home his 7th of the season at 4:05 of the opening period. The two teams traded scoring chances throughout the rest of the frame, but the goaltending stood tall at both ends of the pond. The Brahmas held the edge in shots 17-10 in that period.

The Mudbugs came out in the 2nd and quickly took control of the game by scoring three straight on their way to a 3-1 lead.  Joe Blaznek started things off with his 1st shorthanded goal of the campaign, and 14th overall at 2:14 of the period after he swiped the puck, then headed downtown on a breakaway firing home the gametying goal.  Travis Clayton and Shawn Limpright picked the assists.

The Mudbugs then grabbed thier first lead of the game, just :37 later on a pretty passing play from Brett Smith to Joe Ori which in turn led to Simon Mangos tapping in his 6th goal and 4th point over his last five games.

They would then increase their lead to 3-1 at 11:46 of the period, when David Rutherford roofed his 5th goal and 7th point in his last 5 games. The assists went to Justin Aikins and Mark Johnson.

The Brahmas narrowed the gap less than a minute later on a goal by Jordan Cameron with his 11th on the season to close out the scoring in the period. Shots on goal favored Bossier Shreveport 12-7 in that period. Texas held the shot advantage over the first two periods by a slim 24-21 margin.

Then with just under two minutes left in the third and down 3-2, the Brahmas pulled thier netminder, Brett Jaeger, in hopes that the extra-attacker would bring them good fortune. It did not. Instead, it did just the opposite, as Joe Blaznek put the pretty red bow on the game for the Bugs by sliding his 11th of the season into the gaping net with just over a minute left. He was assisted by Brett Smith and Joe Ori.

The Team will remain home to prepare for back to back weekend home games, beginning Friday night against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, and finishing up Saturday night against the Colorado Eagles. Both contests will face-off promptly at 7:05pm.

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