The Shreveport Mudbugs (40-9-3-3) battled back to tie it late only to fall to the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, 5-4 in the shootout Friday night in Georges Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.
After the Ice Rays scored two goals twelve seconds apart early in the 1st, the Mudbugs responded with goals from Cole Quisenberry at 10:51 and Brendan VanSweden at 14:09 tying the game at 2. Corpus Christi would score late in the 1st period in a wild and crazy opening frame and hold a 3-2 lead on Shreveport after one period of play.
Shreveport who was trailing 4-2 in the third got a spark when Cole Quisenberry drove home his 2nd goal of the night at 8:37 unassisted to pull the score to 4-3. Then the Mudbugs put a late game push and it was VanSweden who bursted into the slot and fired home his 2nd goal of the night tying the game up, 4-4 at 17:26 of the 3rd period.
The game stayed tied 4-4 going into the shootout session where the Ice Rays scored two goals to just the one scored from Shreveport. Brendan Miller netted the game-winning goal in the fourth round.
Corpus Christi clinches a playoff spot with the win and holds off Shreveport from clinching the South Divisonal crown tonight.
The Mudbugs and Ice Rays will conclude their two-game set tomorrow night in Georges Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11pm.