The Shreveport Mudbugs (34-13-2) couldn’t hold three separate one-goal leads and let it slip away late dropping a 6-4 decision to the Oklahoma Warriors at Blazers Ice Centre Friday night.
After Oklahoma scored the game’s first goal early in the game, SHV responded at 16:08 on the PP when Colin Vassallo sniped in his 13th goal of the season from the RW circle. Vassallo’s shot rattled into the back of the net which evened the score, 1-1 and was assisted by Brayden Cook. The Bugs would then grab the lead at 19:59 off a broken play which found Lucas Deeb along the short side hammering in his 16th goal of the campaign just before the buzzer sounded. Deeb’s second tally in as many games gave SHV a 2-1 lead and was assisted by Ryan Burke. Shreveport led in SOG, 8-5 after one.
OKW would tie the game up early in the second period at 4:16 as Max Vig found space on the PP and fired in his seventh tally of the year from the RW circle to make it a 2-2 contest. SHV had another answer at 7:06 as Brent Litchard skated in on a breakaway and after having his initial shot stopped, he was able to poke in his own rebound for his eighth giving the Bugs a 3-2 lead. It was a shorthanded tally assisted by Ryan Burke.
OKW evened up the game, 3-3 early in the third period as William Ahlrik gashed in his 16th tally. Wil Murphy would then slip in his fourth tally of the year from the short side to give SHV a 4-3 lead at 12:12. Then 90 seconds later, it was Brandon Reller who rammed in his second tally to even the game, 4-4 at 13:42. The Warriors would regain the lead at 19:00 when Geno McEnery poked in his sixth goal of the season in front to make it a 5-4 contest. OKW would add an EN goal to complete a 6-4 victory over the Shreveport Mudbugs.
It was Oklahoma’s first win over Shreveport this season (1-6).
The Bugs and Warriors will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from the Blazers Ice Centre. SHV will return home to George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Mar. 8th for Dr. Seuss night as they’ll open up a two-game series against the Amarillo Wranglers.