The Shreveport Mudbugs (4-3) exploded in the third period to dismiss the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, 7-4 and snap a three-game losing streak Friday night at the American Bank Center.
Shreveport lit up the lamp first in the opening period on the powerplay when C.J. McGee rifled in his fourth goal of the year at 5:12 to give the Bugs the early lead 1-0. Guerorgui Feduolov and Justin Cmunt grabbed the assists on the tally. A minute later, Corpus Christi came back and scored short-handed to tie the game up, 1-1. The Mudbugs showed a lot of resilience in a wild opening frame and Josh Barraclough tipped in his first goal of the season on a busted play at 18:29 to give Shreveport the lead back, 2-1. C.J. Mcgee and Dakota Concannon earned the assists on the Bugs’ 2nd goal.
Shreveport added to their lead when Barraclough swept in a bank off the end wall for his 2nd goal of the game giving the Bugs a 3-1 edge at 5:05 of the 2nd period. Concannon grabbed the only assist on the goal which was his 2nd of the game. Leo Chuard had to make great saves in the period to keep the Mudbugs advantage at two goals. Corpus Christi out-shot Shreveport, 14-7 in the middle frame.
The contest got even crazier in the third period when Conor Witherspoon scored on a great individual effort just 59 seconds in to give the Bugs a 4-1 lead. It was 4-2 when former Ice Ray Dakota Concannon faked out the goalie and went to the backhand to roof his 2nd goal of the season giving Shreveport a 5-2 lead at the 5:07 mark of the 3rd period. Corpus Christi roared back scoring a pair of goals pulling the Mudbugs lead down to just one at 5-4. Shreveport’s Ethan Harrison and Justin Cmunt scored tallies to pull away and the Mudbugs won 7-4.
Leo Chuard picked up his fifth win in net making 30 saves on the night.
The Mudbugs and Ice Rays will conclude their two-game set from the American Bank Center tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm.