The Shreveport Mudbugs (27-12) scored three unanswered goals in the 3rd period to come back and beat the Amarillo Bulls, 4-3 Saturday night at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
Amarillo scored goals at 1:57 and 4:28 of the 1st period from Nick Stapleton and Oliver Bezick to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead again early in the contest. Shreveport responded as Ryan Waltman raced up the ice from RW circle and flip in his seventh tally of the season to cut the deficit in half at 2-1 at 15:34 of the 1st. Warren Natyshak and David Breazeale earned the helpers. However, the Bulls stormed back as Aaron White scored a goal at 16:52 off on an odd-man rush from the LW circle making it a 3-1 contest. Amarillo led in SOG, 13-8 after one period of play.
There was no scoring in the 2nd period, but a goaltending change for the Shreveport happened as Richie Parent came into the game in favor of Maiszon Balboa.
The Bugs stormed back in the 3rd period when Jacob Smith fired home his 11th goal of the year in the slot to pull Shreveport within one goal at 3-2. Anton Rubstov and Tim Khokhlachev earned the assists at 2:39. The Bugs were able to scrap out the game-tying goal at 17:25 on a busted play as Brent Keefer jammed home his fifth goal of the year in front to send the packed house of fans into a frenzy. Dawson Sciarrino earned the only assist on the play which made it a 3-3 contest. Then, the Mudbugs were able to grind out the game-winning tally as Carson Nichols was able to redirect home his seventh of the year in front from the short side to give Shreveport an all of a sudden 4-3 edge at 18:53 of the 3rd period. Ryan Waltman and Ryan Dickinson earned the assists on the game-winning goal.
Richie Parent earns the win in net stopping all 10 shots he saw coming in relief of Balboa.
Shreveport wins for the seventh time in their past eight games.
The Mudbugs will hit the road for MLK day for an afternoon tilt at the Nytex Sports Centre to take on the vaunted Lone Star Brahmas. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.