By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
Just when you think you’ve figured out the Shreveport Mudbugs.
Check out the Mudbugs’ outcomes during their two-game series in the month of January (all on home ice):
Sweep of El Paso.
Swept by Oklahoma.
Swept by Odessa.
Sweep of Lone Star.
This weekend’s victories (2-0 on Friday, 6-2 on Saturday) against the Brahmas were punctuated by back-to-back sellouts at George’s Pond and a five-goal third period Saturday. Shreveport trailed 2-1 entering the final 20 minutes.
The third-period rally came after the Mudbugs blew a third-period lead to Odessa one week prior.
“We dug ourselves a hole with the four-game losing streak,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal. “The guys, I’ll give it to them, they responded really well. We were able to finish this homestand on a high note against a really good hockey team.”
Shreveport’s six goals Saturday tied the most scored against the Brahmas this season.
The Mudbugs became just the second team in 21 tries to defeat Lone Star after trailing entering the third period.
“The guys stuck with the plan and didn’t panic,” Campbell said. “The puck had eyes for us; it started going in.”
Goaltender Simon Bucheler made 23 saves in a shutout Friday and got the victory again Saturday. Forward Nick Marino registered two goals and two assists Saturday.
The Mudbugs moved into a tie with New Mexico for third place in the North American Hockey League’s South Division and bumped Lone Star out of the top spot.
“This is where you learn how to play playoff hockey – in a packed house against a good hockey team that doesn’t give you an inch,” Campbell said.
After four straight weekends at The George, Shreveport now travels to Odessa.
“This was a huge weekend that we needed,” Campbell said. “Now, we have to humble ourselves a little bit and get ready for a team that took two (games) from us in our own building last weekend.”
Last week’s 3 Stars
- Nick Marino, two goals and two assists Saturday.
- Simon Bucheler, faced 44 shots over two games and made 42 saves, highlighted by a 23-save shutout Friday.
- Jake Mack, wreaked havoc on the Brahmas with linemate Marino. Scored the game-winner in the third period Saturday.
NAHL South Division standings
Oklahoma (28-6-1), 57 points
Lone Star (25-8-4), 54
New Mexico (21-14-3), 45
Shreveport (20-13-5), 45
Amarillo (19-14-3), 41
Odessa (18-17-1), 37
El Paso (11-22-3), 25
Corpus Christi (9-24-5), 23
*top four make the playoffs
Team leaders
Goals: Garrett Steele, 13
Assists: Drake Morse, 21
Points: Morse, 33
Penalty Minutes: Maksim Sushchynski, 70
Game-winning goals: Morse, Hayden Nichol, Logan Gotinsky, 3
Goals-against average: Bucheler, 1.89
Save percentage: Bucheler, .924
Up next
After a month at home, the Mudbugs head to Odessa this weekend (Friday, Saturday, 7:15 p.m.)
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com