The Shreveport Mudbugs (3-1) got goals from Kyan Haldenby and Colin Vassallo and stellar goaltending to shutout the El Paso Rhinos, 2-0 to win the South Divisional Semi-Final series in five games at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Monday night.
The Bugs and Rhinos were scoreless after a first period which saw SHV get denied quite a few times from scoring. SHV led in SOG, 15-6 after one.
SHV broke the ice at 4:52 of the second period as Kyan Haldenby created time and space from the left wing and snapped in his third goal of the playoffs to give the Bugs a 1-0 lead. Colin Vassallo earned the only assist. The home continued to dominate in SOG leading 25-14 after two.
SHV would extend their lead just 57 seconds into the third as Colin Vassallo rifled home his third goal of the playoffs from the left wing to make it 2-0 Bugs. Haldenby picked up the only assist and his second point of the contest. It was also Vassallo’s second point of the game as well.
The Bugs advance to the South Divisional Final to take on their arch-rival in the Lone Star Brahmas for a best-of-five series. Game 1 will be next Friday night w/ puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Nytex Sports Centre.