The Shreveport Mudbugs (3-2) got a performance for the ages from Simon Bucheler to help lead his team to a tight 1-0 victory over the rival Lone Star Brahmas and win the series in five games at Nytex Sports Centre Monday night.
SHV got off to the fastest start in this series as Hayden Nichol and Garrett Steele found a wide open Logan Gotinsky cutting in from the far side who faked out Arthur Smith and shoveled in his first tally of the playoffs to put the Bugs up 1-0 just 17 seconds into the game. SOG were tied 6-6 after one.
The Gotinsky goal would stand up as the only tally of the game as Simon Bucheler made 25 incredible stops to earn his first shutout and win in these playoffs. The Brahmas threw the kitchen sink, but the Bugs fended off everything which went their way in the second and third period.
The Bugs advance to the South Division Final as they’ll take on top seeded Oklahoma in Game 1 this Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from Blazers Ice Centre.