By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum awakened this weekend as the Shreveport Mudbugs provided a number of electric moments. Eric Vitale scored just before the final horn Friday to tie the game with Oklahoma. The Mudbugs eventually lost in overtime, but earned a point. Twenty-four hours later, the Mudbugs blew a 1-0 third-period lead, scored twice to regain the lead and lost it again before Logan Gotinsky found the net for his second goal of the period to lift his team to a thrilling 4-3 victory.
“It’s pretty huge,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell said. “The mood in the locker room has totally changed. It’s not like guys felt defeated due to what was going on, but you haven’t won since the first game of the year, so when are you finally going to get that little prize?”
Oklahoma’s Garrett Horsager scored twice in 45 seconds early in the third period to take a 2-1 lead before Mudbugs captain Garrett Steele tied things. Gotinsky’s first go-ahead goal came with 8:21 remaining, but the Warriors made it 3-3 with a goal from Hunter Jones.
Gotinsky roofed a shot with 6:28 left to give the Mudbugs the lead for good.
“He’s been pretty consistent all year with his work ethic,” Campbell said of Gotinsky.
“(Saturday), the offensive ability he has showed through, but it’s because he works hard. He’s not afraid to finish a hit, he kills penalties for us – he’s just always involved and always working.”
Moments later after his second goal of the game, Gotinsky appeared to complete a hat trick, but it was wiped out due to an interference penalty on Jake Mack.
The Mudbugs survived Oklahoma’s subsequent 6-on-4 (the Warriors pulled their goaltender) to win for the first time in four home games this season.
“All in one night, they figured out how to win, and then learned how to let it slip away, then they learned how to win and learned how to let it slip away and then, in the end, they learned how to win a big game,” Campbell said. “We need to learn from the win, just like we learned from the losses.”
Last week’s 3 Stars
- Logan Gotinsky, nearly collected the first natural hat trick in Mudbugs’ NAHL franchise history, but the two goals in the third period Saturday were enough to lift his team to victory.
- Tommy Aitken, allowed three goals Saturday but deserved the victory after keeping Shreveport in nearly every game he’s played this season.
- Kason Muscutt, became the first Shreveport product to play at home for the Mudbugs. His energy was infectious as he looks to find a steady spot in the lineup.
NAHL South Division standings
New Mexico (6-1-1), 13
Amarillo (6-0-0), 12 points
Lone Star (6-1-0), 12
El Paso (5-3-0), 10
Oklahoma (5-2-0), 10
Shreveport (2-4-2), 6
Corpus Christi (2-5-1), 5
Odessa (1-4-1), 3
*top four make the playoffs
Team leaders
Goals: Jake Mack, 4
Assists: Jaden Goldie, Logan Heroux, 4
Points: Mack, Logan Gotinsky, 5
Penalty Minutes: Garrett Steele, Gotinsky, 17
Game-winning goals: Miller, Gotinsky 1
Goals-against average: Tommy Aitken, 2.13
Save percentage: Aitken, .916
Up next
The Mudbugs complete the first homestand of the season when the Odessa Jackalopes visit on Friday and Saturday (7:11 p.m.).
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com