By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
A pair of improbable comebacks Friday and Saturday set George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum ablaze and helped the Shreveport Mudbugs put the finishing touches on a successful, yet mind-boggling season series against rival Lone Star.
The Mudbugs trailed by two goals entering Friday’s third period, yet emerged with a 3-2 shootout victory. Saturday, they again found themselves down a pair of goals and, again, managed to claw back and get the game into overtime. Shreveport did not possess the puck once in the 5-minute extra session, was shorthanded for 2 of those minutes and still denied the Brahmas long enough to force a shootout, where it won again.
“Just your typical Lone Star weekend,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal.
The sweep helped Shreveport move into sole possession of the fourth and final playoff position in the North American Hockey League South Division.
With 11 games remaining in the regular season, Shreveport stands three points behind third-place Wichita Falls and two points ahead of fifth-place Odessa.
Despite not outshooting the Brahmas in any game this season, the defending Robertson Cup champs earned five victories in the eight games against Lone Star — four of the five wins came in overtime or a shootout.
Shreveport netminder Devon Bobak played every minute between the pipes and stretched his personal win streak to six games. His 22 victories this season rank No. 4 in the NAHL.
Connor Gatto and Austin Brimmer, the Mudbugs’ leading scorers, sparked Friday’s rally with third-period goals before Gunner Moore’s tally in the ninth round of the shootout put the game away.
Saturday, Jake Mack scored twice in the second period to tie the game. Brimmer ended things in the shootout. The latest comeback marked the third time in four meetings Shreveport emerged victorious against Lone Star despite trailing by two goals. In all, the Mudbugs trailed in four of the five games they won against the Brahmas in the 2021-22 campaign.
Campbell says the comebacks have little to do with magical words he’s offered in the locker room or on the bench during desperate times.
“We can try to motivate them, we can yell at them, we can pat them on the butt and say, ‘You’re so awesome,’ but in the end, it’s just them and their ability to keep playing the game,” Campbell said.
Shots on goal in Bugs-Brahmas this season
Nov. 12: Brahmas, 23-17; Brahmas win 3-2
Nov. 13: Brahmas, 36-13; Brahmas win 9-2
Jan. 28: Brahmas, 27-20; Bugs win, 3-2 (OT)
Jan. 29: Brahmas, 26-14; Bugs win, 2-0
Feb. 11: Brahmas, 22-19; Bugs win, 3-2 (SO)
Feb. 12: Brahmas, 34-13; Brahmas win, 5-2
March 11: Brahmas, 30-22; Bugs win, 3-2 (SO)
March 12: Tied 26-26; Bugs win, 3-2 (SO)
Total: Brahmas 224-144; Bugs win series 5-3
Journal’s 3 Stars
1. Austin Brimmer, whether it’s ripping his team on the bench, getting in the face of an opponent or scoring the timely goal, he seems to be the guy who can consistently do what’s needed when it’s needed
2. Devon Bobak, impeccable finishes set the stage for both comeback wins
3. Jake Mack, erased a two-goal deficit with a pair of tallies in the second period Saturday.
NAHL South Division standings
New Mexico (34-13-3), 71 points
Lone Star (29-11-10), 68
Wichita Falls (26-15-8), 60
Shreveport (26-18-5), 57
Odessa (25-20-5), 55
Amarillo (24-23-3), 51
Corpus Christi (23-25-2), 48
El Paso (13-33-4), 30
*top four make the playoffs
Team leaders
Goals: Austin Brimmer, Connor Gatto, 14
Assists: Brimmer, 26
Points: Brimmer, 40
Penalty Minutes: Davis Goukler, 125
Game-winning goals: Connor Gatto, 4
Goals-against average: Devon Bobak, 2.08
Save percentage: Bobak, .919
Up next
The Mudbugs begin their final road trip of the regular season with a pair at first-place New Mexico (Friday, Saturday). The seven-game swing will also hit Wichita Falls, Amarillo and Odessa.
Photo by CHRISTI LANG