The Shreveport Mudbugs (24-13-6) clawed their way to a resilient 2-1 victory over the rival Lone Star Brahmas in the shootout at the Nytex Sports Centre Friday night.
The Bugs cashed in on the PP late in the opening period when Maksim Sushchynski slapped home his second goal of the year from the left point through traffic to give SHV a 1-0 lead at 18:52. Garrett Steele and Kason Muscutt set up the play and earned the assists on the game’s first goal. The Mudbugs led in SOG, 12-6 after one.
Lone Star pressed the action in the second period and tied the game at 12:12 on a rebound in front which was shot from Dhillon Wilde for his 14th tally of the year to make it a 1-1 contest. LSB led in SOG, 19-18 after two.
The game stayed tied 1-1 throughout a frantic third period which saw big saves from both ends and a big Bugs penalty kill in the reigning minutes of regulation.
No team would score in OT sending the game into a shootout. In the shootout, Ryan Burke and Eric Vitale scored goals as Simon Bucheler stopped both of Lone Star’s attempts to come up w/ a resilient 2-1 victory over their arch-rival.
Bucheler earned his 18th win in net making 23 stops on the night.
The Bugs and Brahmas will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Nytex Sports Centre.