By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

Jason Campbell was brutally honest this week in the wake of back-to-back meltdowns by the Shreveport Mudbugs and he’s challenged his team to change his mind.

The head coach saw his team take two- and three-goal leads against Oklahoma last weekend on George’s Pond. If the Mudbugs had won those games, they would have climbed within a point of second place in the North American Hockey League’s South Division. Instead, they allowed a combined 11 straight goals and lost both games in regulation. Shreveport dropped into fourth place, the final playoff slot.

“I feel like that gap (between Shreveport and Oklahoma) is legitimate,” said Campbell, whose team has won just one of six matchups against the Warriors this season. “We haven’t figured out how to beat them. We’ve had them on the ropes late, we’ve had them on the ropes early and they’ve found a way to win.

“We weren’t ready to run with the big dogs.”

This weekend, the Mudbugs (18-12-4) don’t host a top-four team but visiting Odessa (15-16-1) has won six of its past 10 games. 

The focus entering this series is “D-zone.”

Shreveport carries an NAHL-franchise-record streak of 14 games with at least three goals scored, but defense is the issue.

“We need to be able to defend against teams that have high-powered offenses,” Campbell said. “We have to play an even-keeled game – a nice mixture of offense and defense.

“The puck is a big part of the game, but there is so much going on away from the puck. We’re struggling in that area the most.”

Shreveport forward Niklas Miller, an alternate captain, understands this is when the guys with letters on their sweaters need to take charge.

“It’s truly an honor to wear a letter here,” Miller said. “These are the times they need us the most, and not just the guys with the letters, the whole leadership group – the veterans. We have to keep everyone in check, keep everyone in the right mood to make sure we’re doing everything right during the week so that we’re doing it right on the weekend.”

Note: The NAHL released rosters for the league’s Top Prospects Showcase, set for Feb. 6-7 in Pittsburgh. Three players will represent the Mudbugs: captain Garrett Steele, forward Drake Morse (the team leader in points) and Logan Gotinsky … the Mudbugs will host “Music Appreciation” weekend, including Elvis and Johnny Cash look-alike contests.

Mudbugs vs. Odessa 

Tonight, Saturday (7:15 p.m.)

George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum

Tickets: 318-636-7094

Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com