The Shreveport Mudbugs (17-10-4) were led by Ryan Burke’s pair of goals and superb goaltending from Simon Bucheler to coast to a 5-0 shutout win over the El Paso Rhinos at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Friday night.
After a scoreless opening period, the Bugs broke through on the PP when Drake Morse found space in the far circle and snapped home his ninth goal of the season to give SHV a 1-0 edge at 4:25 of the middle frame. Logan Heroux and Jaden Goldie earned the helpers on the game’s first goal. The Mudbugs would add another at 10:38 as Ryan Burke got in front and banged in his seventh tally of the campaign to make it a 2-0 contest. Garrett Steele got the puck in front and picked up the only assist. SHV led in SOG, 30-15 after two.
SHV poured it on in third period and it started at 11:01 as Eric Vitale poked home his sixth tally of the year to extend his point-scoring streak to 10 games. Morse and Simon Bucheler earned the helpers. The Bugs continued their attack as Sutton Murray knocked in a greasy goal in front at 12:23 to extend their lead to 4-0. The two-time Robertson Cup Champs would put the icing on the cake as Burke lifted home his second goal of the contest from the short side to complete a 5-0 victory over the Rhinos.
Bucheler made 20 stops to earn his second shutout of the season and his eighth straight start and win in net. SHV has won five straight and ten of their past eleven games overall.
The Bugs and Rhinos will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m. from George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
