BY ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

Last week, Shreveport Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell wasn’t exactly thrilled with the way his team responded in practice after it was swept at home. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise the Mudbugs were then swept again on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.

This week’s response was much more to Campbell’s liking.

“Just the energy alone,” Campbell told The Journal. “And the compete level was really good.”

Shreveport (18-13-5) will aim to snap a four-game losing skid against rival Lone Star, the top team in the North American Hockey League’s South Division. The Brahmas (25-6-4) pay a visit to The George tonight and Saturday.

Campbell said the presence of coaches Gavin Morgan and Rich Parent may have provided a spark this week.

Morgan was the team’s associate head coach last year and Parent is the long-time goaltenders coach.

“It provided a couple of different voices,” Campbell said.

After scoring at least three times in 14 straight games, the Mudbugs managed just two goals in 125 minutes of play against Odessa last weekend.

“We generated some chances,” Campbell said, “but with some of the shots we didn’t have traffic in front of the net or didn’t get rebounds or second-chance opportunities.”

The task will only be tougher as the franchise celebrates its Mardi Gras weekend. The Brahmas bring the league’s top defense to town — 70 goals allowed this season (2.0 per game).  

Two of the top five goalies in the NAHL spearhead Lone Star’s suffocating efforts. Arthur Smith brings a 12-2-2 record to town with the league’s best goals-against average (1.41). Teammate William Gramme is 12-4-2.

“We’re going to have to make their life difficult,” Campbell said. “We have to get pucks to net and make sure we have traffic and guys to deflect pucks or bang in rebounds.”

The Mudbugs had an opportunity to climb within a point of second place just two weeks ago. Now, they cling to the final playoff spot, just four points ahead of Amarillo. The Wranglers have two games in hand on Shreveport.

“We’re going to have to be consistent this weekend – make good reads and good decisions,” Campbell said. “Lone Star is a very consistent, systematic team with a good work ethic. We have to find the chinks in the armor and be resilient.”

Bugs vs. Lone Star

Tonight, Saturday (7:11 p.m.)

George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum

Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com