The Shreveport Mudbugs (5-5-2) got another big third to guide them to another win over Amarillo and earn their first sweep of the young season at the Amarillo Civic Center Saturday night.
After Amarillo scored the game’s first goal at 4:20, the Bugs got a big response quickly from a veteran center. It was Logan Valkama on the PP who ripped home his third tally of the year with a blast from the top of the point to even the score, 1-1. Garrett Steele and Drake Morse earned the helpers on the equalizer. The home team led in SOG, 8-6 after one.
After a scoreless middle period, the Bugs broke the tie in the third period. Drake Morse drilled home his first goal of the season after a faceoff win from Jaden Goldie to give Shreveport a 2-1 at 3:43 of the third period. The Bugs held onto that one-goal lead until 17:32 when Morse drove to the net and got taken down into the goalie, but it was Goldie there to take the loose puck and lift in his first goal of the season to extend the Shreveport lead to 3-1.
Simon Bucheler made 24 saves to earn his third win in net and has now won seven of his past eight starts dating back to last season.
The Bugs will return home to host the reigning South Champions in the New Mexico Ice Wolves for a two-game series beginning next Friday night. It’ll be our annual Cancer Awareness/Renee’s Run themed weekend w/ puck drop scheduled for 7:11 p.m. next Friday and Saturday from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.