The Shreveport Mudbugs (1-1) rallied from a three-goal deficit to earn an improbable 4-3 victory over the Oklahoma Warriors to earn a hard-fought series split at the Blazers Ice Centre Saturday night.
The Warriors just like last night jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening period w/ goals from Kyle Sorensen and Brendan Schooley 1:09 apart.
After OKW tallied another goal early in the second, the Bugs responded w/ their first of the campaign at 13:06 on the PP as Ryan Baert threw an innocent shot from the right corner which deflected its way into the net to make it a 3-1 contest. Joe Samango and Carter McKay picked up the helpers. SHV led in SOG, 20-18 after two.
SHV creeped closer just 44 seconds into the third as Carter McKay redirected home a puck infront for his first of the year to make it a 3-2 contest. The Bugs would find the equalizer at 13:06 as Ryan Baert buried home a shot from the slot to dramatically even the contest, 3-3. The game stayed tied at 3 until there was 1.7 seconds left and it was Duke Ehrhard grabbing the loose puck into the zone and wiring home a blast from the near side to give SHV a 4-3 lead and be the difference maker in their first win of the season.
Tyler Hodges stayed steady and earned his first win in net.
The Bugs will host their 25-26 home opener against the Amarillo Wranglers for a two-game series beginning next Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m. from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.