The Shreveport Mudbugs (8-1-2) rallied to tie the game late yet again, but fell in the shootout, 3-2 to the Amarillo Bulls Friday night which was their first loss at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
Amarillo got on the board late in the first period at 18:20 when Greg Japchen scored his first goal of the season from the point through traffic on the powerplay to give the Bulls the 1-0 edge. It was another slow start for the Bugs at home as they were out-shot, 15-5 after one period of play.
Shreveport responded early in the 2nd period as Billy Feczko took a tough pass up the ice from Davis Goukler and ripped one top shelf from the LW circle for his third goal of the campaign to tie the game, 1-1. The tying goal occurred at 2:44 and was only assisted from Goukler. It was a messy middle frame as there was a delay after a plexiglass malfunction. Shreveport out-shot Amarillo, 9-2 in the period and it was 17-14 in favor of the Bulls in SOG after two.
Amarillo regained the lead early in the third period at 1:07 when Jere Vaisanen shot in his fourth tally off the PP from the far circle to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead. The Bugs responded with late game heroics at home again as Billy Feczko got in front and slipped in his second goal of the game and fourth of the year to tie the game, 2-2. Braiden Dorfman and Chris Hedden earned the helpers on the game-tying tally.
The game stayed tied 2-2 sending the game into OT for a third straight contest at George’s Pond, but the Bugs were unable to capitalize on a 4 on 3 PP opportunity which sent the game into a shootout.
In the shootout which had to go four rounds was decided by the only goal from Ty Black of Amarillo to lift the Bulls to a 3-2 victory over Shreveport.
Amarillo won the SOG battle over Shreveport, 32-26 giving the Bugs their first loss at home this season.
The Bugs and Bulls will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m.