The Shreveport Mudbugs (40-14-2) got a stellar showing from Brent Litchard, Ryan Burke, and Nikola Goich enroute to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Odessa Jackalopes and another sweep at Ector County Coliseum Saturday night.
SHV got on the board in a 4 on 4 scenario when Ryan Burke raced in on an odd-man rush from the left wing and fed the puck to Maksim Sushchynski cutting through the slot who wired in his second goal of the year to give the Bugs a 1-0 lead. Burke and Brent Litchard earned the helpers. The visiting team led in SOG, 14-8 after one.
The Bugs extended their lead at 12:12 of the second when Nick Marino got the puck in the slot and dribbled in his 19th goal of the season which snuck into the cage to make it a 2-0. Colin Vassallo and Seth Murch picked up the assists. SHV would add another at 18:33 on the PP as Brent Litchard in front fed Burke in the right wing who hammered home his 23rd tally to make it 3-0. It was Burke’s 57th point of the campaign and was assisted by Litchard and Lucas Deeb. Bugs hockey led in SOG, 29-20 after two.
Odessa got into penalty trouble late in the third period and Lucas Deeb put the icing on the cake as he drilled home his 19th goal from the slot to push the edge to 4-0 at 13:07. Burke picked up the only assist and his third point of the night.
Nikola Goich made 26 saves to earn the shutout and help SHV win for the 17th time in their past 20 games.
The Bugs will be back on the road next weekend as they’ll begin another two-game series against the Oklahoma Warriors. Game one will be next Friday night w/ puck drop scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from the Blazers Ice Centre.