The Shreveport Mudbugs (2-2) got the go-ahead goal from a former Brahma to squeeze out a 3-2 victory over the Lone Star Brahmas in game 4 Saturday night at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
The Mudbugs opened up the scoring on an opportunistic play when Conor Witherspoon rushed up the ice and stole the puck from Lone Star’s blue line and fired home his 2nd goal of the series just above Seth Eisele’s shoulder – far side to give Shreveport the 1-0 edge. The goal was unassisted at 19:05 of the 1st period. Bugs led in SOG, 15-12 after the opening period of play.
Lone Star responded in the 2nd period with goals from Zach Heintz and Sam Brennan at 8:31 and 11:48 respectively to put the Brahmas, 2-1 in the contest. Shreveport however answered back at 14:40 as Billy Feczko put a slapper in from the slot for his first goal of the series assisted by Ethan Harrison knotting up the score, 2-2. Lone Star out-shot Shreveport 10-9 in the middle period and overall totals after two were 24-22 in favor of the defending champions.
Both teams came out strong to open up the 3rd period looking to break the 2-2 tie. It was Anton Rubstov though who raced up the ice and got on a breakaway and faked out Eisele in net to score on the backhand at 11:36 to lift the Mudbugs back up ahead, 3-2 and send the packed home crowd into a frenzy. The Bugs held off a furious surge from the Brahmas trying to tie the game and skated away with a 3-2 victory and forcing a decisive game 5 in the series.
Leo Chuard earns the win in net with 36 saves on the night. SOG were tied 36-36 at the end of the night.
The Mudbugs and Brahmas will now duke it out in a winner-take-all game 5 of this series Monday night back in the Nytex Sports Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Bugs Squeeze Past Brahmas to Force Game 5