The Shreveport Mudbugs (41-16-2) got a big game from their biggest players to top the El Paso Rhinos, 4-2 and clinch a #2 seed in the South Division and first-round bye in the playoffs at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Friday night.
SHV opened the scoring at 11:10 as Colin Vassallo took the puck into the slot and snapped home his 16th goal of the year with a great shot to make it 1-0. Kyan Haldenby earned the assist winning the faceoff draw just outside the blue line. The Bugs extended their lead at 16:45 as Wil Murphy rammed in his fifth goal of the year into a yawning net extending the lead to 2-0. it was a PP goal assisted by Liam Fleet and Ryan Burke who set a new NAHL franchise record recording his 60th point of the year.
The Rhinos got on the board at 5:07 of the second period when Mason Label squeezed in his 14th tally from a tough angle to make it 2-1. SHV responded at 6:20 as Colin Vassallo skated in front and hammered home a rebound in front for his second goal of the night to extend the Bugs edge to 3-1. Kyan Haldenby and Burke picked up the assists. ELP came right at 8:45 as Medric Bolduc scored on a breakaway to make it 3-2. The home team led in SOG, 17-16 after two.
SHV put the game away as he got a perfect feed from Vassallo and roofed in his 20th goal of the campaign to extend the lead to 4-2 at 6:01 of the third period.
Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau made 17 stops to earn his 26th win of the season and help SHV clinch the #2 seed in the South Division and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Bugs and Rhinos will conclude their two-game series and the 2023-2024 season tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m. from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.