The Shreveport Mudbugs (37-13-2) got a big lift from one of their leaders late in the game to surge past the Amarillo Wranglers, 4-2 and earn a series sweep at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Saturday night.
The Wranglers took advantage of their first PP of the contest when Jack Ivey tipped home his 28th tally of the season in front to give Amarillo the early 1-0 lead at 2:30 of the opening period.
After the Wranglers made it 2-0 midway through the 2nd, SHV responded with their PP tally as Logan Heroux hammered in his 10th goal of the season from the bumper slot to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Hayden Nichol picked up the only assist. The Bugs led in SOG, 25-16 after two.
SHV found the equalizer at 7:48 of the third period as Lucas Deeb took a perfect feed from Ryan Burke and backhanded home his 18th goal of the year to even the score, 2-2. The contest would stay tied until 13:11 when SHV dumped the puck into the Amarillo zone which took a fortunate bounce in front of an empty net which was nailed in from Hayden Nichol which was his 20th tally to give the Bugs a 3-2 lead. Nichol would then put the game away at 15:03 as made a nice move around the left wing and sniped in his second goal of the night to extend the lead to 4-2. Heroux picked up the only assist as the Mudbugs closed out a 4-2 victory over the Amarillo Wranglers and series sweep.
Nikola Goich made 20 stops to pick up his ninth win between the pipes to help SHV win their 14th game in their past 16 overall.
The Bugs will continue their home-stand as they’ll take on the Oklahoma Warriors once again for a two-game series. It’ll be our “Geek’d in America” themed series w/ our players wearing special Captain America inspired specialty jerseys which will be auctioned off after the series on Saturday night. Game one will be Friday night w/ puck drop scheduled for 7:11 p.m. from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.