By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Friday, the Shreveport Mudbugs set the table for a memorable weekend with Ryan Burke’s dazzling last-second goal to end an 0-for-November power-play drought and send their game with North American Hockey League-best Lone Star into overtime.
In the extra session, Jaden Goldie sent home the game-winner to snap the club’s five-game losing streak.
However, the Mudbugs were unable to complete the statement weekend. Instead, they left the NYTEX Sports Centre with just two points – to Lone Star’s three – after Saturday’s 4-1 loss.
“It was the same old story — we played OK (Saturday), but the power play had some chances and we just didn’t finish and the PK gave one up. We needed more goals,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell said. “We just didn’t have the push we had Friday.”
Shreveport did end its power-play drought in the opener, but it took pulling the goalie to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Saturday, the Mudbugs failed on all five chances with the man-advantage and were beset by turnovers in their defensive zone.
“Most teams protect the middle of the ice, especially this team,” Campbell said. “If you make a soft play, they’re probably going to be coming right back at you.”
Three weekends into their eight-game, five-week road trip, Shreveport will enjoy a week off before heading to El Paso on Nov. 25-26.
“They’ve been going hard since August,” said Campbell, whose team dropped to fifth place in the South Division.
“The break is probably coming at a really good time. The challenge after the break is to learn to push for 120 minutes or more every weekend.”
Last week’s 3 Stars
- Jaden Goldie, a very solid season continued with the game-winning goal in overtime Friday to snap the Mudbugs’ five-game losing streak.
- Ryan Burke, broke the Mudbugs’ prolonged power-play drought with the timeliest of goals Friday.
- Drake Morse, opened the scoring Friday night.
NAHL South Division standings
Lone Star (14-1-2), 30 points
Oklahoma (12-2-1), 25
New Mexico (11-4-1), 23
Amarillo (9-6-1), 19
Shreveport (7-9-4), 18
El Paso (8-8-0), 16
Odessa (7-8-1), 15
Corpus Christi (3-13-2), 8
*top four make the playoffs
Team leaders
Goals: Logan Gotinsky, Niklas Miller, Garrett Steele, 5
Assists: Jaden Goldie, Drake Morse, Logan Heroux, 8
Points: Goldie, Morse, 11
Penalty Minutes: Maksim Sushchynski, Miller 62
Game-winning goals: Goldie 2
Goals-against average: Tommy Aitken, 2.32
Save percentage: Aitken, .912
Up next
The Mudbugs will enjoy a rare mid-November week off.
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com
