The Shreveport Mudbugs (4-5-2) rallied from down two goals in the third period to squeeze out a dramatic 4-3 shootout win over Amarillo Friday night.
After a scoreless opening period, the Captain Garrett Steele was able to take a rebound in front and roof in his fourth tally of the season and give the Bugs a 1-0 edge at 8:07 of the 2nd period. Logan Gotinski earned the only helper as he made the initial shot from the near circle. Then Amarillo rallied w/ a pair of goals from Tommy Chunchukov at 12:07 and 15:30 to give the home team a sudden 2-1 advantage. The Wranglers tacked on another tally from Roman Zap from the near circle off a perfect pass on the PP to make it a 3-1 contest. Bugs led in SOG, 28-27 after two periods of play.
The Bugs rallied back in the 3rd period when Logan Gotinsky slapped home a rebound in front to give Shreveport life just down 3-2 at 9:06. Logan Heroux and Hayden Nichol earned the assists. The Bugs never stopped fighting as it was Gotinsky again on a shorthanded breakaway able to fake out the goalie and snap in his second goal of the game and team-leading fifth of the season to knot the game up, 3-3. Nichol and Matt Danizger would grab the helpers on the game-tying tally.
The game would stay tied 3-3 going to the shootout. The Captain Garrett would fire home the deciding goal beating their goalie along the glove side in the fifth round of the shootout. Simon Bucheler stopped all, but one shot in the shootout and made 30 saves in the rest of the contest to earn his second win in net.
The Bugs and Wranglers conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from the Amarillo Civic Center.