The Shreveport Mudbugs (5-3-1) couldn’t overcome many multiple goal deficits and dropped a 5-3 decision to the New Mexico Ice Wolves at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Friday night.
SHV got off to a fast start, but couldn’t capitalize on early grade A chances as they found themselves in an early 2-0 hole after goals from Lucca Ricci and Damon Bickler at 7:02 and 10:26 of the opening period. The Bugs finally broke through as Nick Marino snapped home his second tally of the season at 16:08 off an initial faceoff win from Hayden Nichol to make it a 2-1 contest.
NM grabbed a two-goal lead again at 11:02 of the second as Ryan Seelinger scored his second on a breakaway to push the lead to 3-1. SHV would answer right away at 11:48 as Lucas Deeb got in down low and after being denied a few times, stayed w/ the play and roofed in his second goal of the campaign from the short side to make it a 3-2 contest. Logan Heroux earned the only assist on the latest Bugs’ tally. After NM scored a flukey goal at 14:36, the two-time Robertson Cup Champs responded yet again on their PP opportunity as Heroux hammered home his fourth goal of the season from the high slot to get the Bugs within one goal again at 4-3. Brayden Cook and Wil Murphy picked up the assists on Heroux’s goal at 16:04. SHV led in SOG, 17-16 after two.
SHV couldn’t find any more puck luck as Brady Borgestad banged in a greasy goal along the far side to help New Mexico top Shreveport, 5-3 in the series opener.
The Bugs and Ice Wolves will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m.