The Shreveport Mudbugs (26-11) scored seven goals in the second period to help rout the Corpus Christi IceRays, 8-0 completing the season sweep Sunday afternoon at the American Bank Center.
The Bugs missed some quality scoring chances in the 1st period, but also dodged a few bullets as Corpus Christi rang the crossbar and post in one chaotic sequence. Shreveport led in SOG, 12-5 after one period of play.
After Carson Nichols drew a kneeing major penalty skated on his own two feet into the locker room, the Bugs took full advantage of a 5 minute powerplay. It all started Aidan Metcalfe rifling home his first NAHL goal from the RW circle off a brilliant pass from Tim Khokhlachev to give the Bugs a 1-0 lead at 5:18. Then Jacob Smith would go top shelf in the slot to earn his ninth goal of the year as Khokhlachev and Sam Miller earned the helpers making it a 2-0 edge at 6:32. It was then Khokhlachev redirecting in his tenth goal of the year off of a shot from Captain David Breazeale from the LW circle to make it a 3-0 contest at 7:11. The Bugs wouldn’t stop there as Conor Witherspoon would ram home his fifth tally of the season 33 seconds later to make it a 4-0 lead at 7:34. Then it was 26 seconds later when Billy Feczko used his speed and stashed in his second goal in as many games from the near side making it a 5-0 lead at 8:00. The Bugs scored five goals in a span of 2:42.
Shreveport wouldn’t stop there in the 2nd period when Rubstov railed in his fifth goal of the year top shelf from the slot and Khokhlachev picked up his fourth point of the game with the assist lifting the Bugs lead to 6-0 at 11:23. The Bugs would put the cherry on top of the period when Smith poked home his second goal of the period on an odd-man rush from the far side making it a 7-0 edge for Shreveport. Rubstov and Ryan Dickinson would earn the helpers. Bugs led in SOG, 26-14 after two periods of play.
Matt Weber would add in his second goal this weekend at 15:15 in the third period to make it a 8-0 contest.
Maiszon Balboa completed the game making just 16 saves to earn his third shutout of the season.
Shreveport wins their sixth straight overall and completes a season sweep of the IceRays winning all 12 contests between the two teams.
The Mudbugs will return to George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum next weekend to take on the South Division leading Amarillo Bulls for a two-game series. Game 1 will be next Friday night with puck drop scheduled for 7:11 p.m.