The Shreveport Mudbugs (24-18-8) battled hard after being down, but fell short to the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, 4-3 Friday night at the American Bank Center.
The Bugs got off to a roaring start when Warren Natyshak raced down the middle of the ice and slipped in his seventh goal of the year just 49 seconds into the game. Jack Jaunich and C.J. McGee earned the assists putting the Bugs up early 1-0. That lead didn’t last long as Nicholas Seitz, Nikita Krivokrasov, and Santeri Hartikainen scored at 1:28, 8:36, and 13:54 respectively to give the Ice Rays the rapid 3-1 edge over the Bugs. Shreveport led in SOG, 13-9 after one period of play.
The second period didn’t start out any for the Mudbugs as Jake Stella wristed home a goal at 2:57 to extend the Rays’ lead to 4-1. The Bugs responded 31 seconds later as Timmy Clifton threw in his eighth goal of the year at 3:28 to pull Shreveport within two goals at 4-2. Jacob Skolnik and Matt Weber grabbed the assists. SOG were tied 22 apiece after two periods of play.
The Bugs battled out of the gates in the 3rd period as Ryan Dickinson tapped home his third goal of the year in front to pull the Bugs within one at 2:07. Andrew Jackson got the only assist. That would be the closest the Mudbugs would get as the Ice Rays staged off a furious rally the rest of the way. Corpus Christi led in SOG, 33-31 at the end of the contest.
The Mudbugs will travel to Odessa, TX to take on the Jackalopes for a two-game series beginning next Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.