The Shreveport Mudbugs (29-19-5) got a pair of goals from Timofei Khokhlachev and solid goaltending from Simon Bucheler to lead the way to a 4-2 victory over the Amarillo Wranglers at the Amarillo Civic Center Friday night.
The Bugs controlled most of the opening period, but couldn’t beat new netminder Carter Clafton in a scoreless frame. Simon Bucheler made a few big saves at the end of the period as the Bugs led in SOG, 10-7 after one.
Amarillo opened up the scoring at 3:34 of the 2nd period when Danylo Korzhyletski zipped one in from the RW circle to give the Wranglers a 1-0 advantage. The Bugs responded at 7:28 when Hayden Nichol and Lukas Sedlacek help feed the puck to Timofei Khokhlachev in the slot who powered in his 13th goal of the campaign to even the score, 1-1. SOG were tied 6 apiece in the middle period.
Shreveport would take their first lead of the night at 2:22 of the third when Lukas Sedlacek got underneath the defense and faked out their netminder and fore-handed in his 11th tally of the season to give the Bugs a 2-1 edge. Davis Goukler and Simon Bucheler earned the assists. Shreveport extended their lead at 4:33 when Khokhlachev raced through the offensive zone and roofed in his second goal of the night to make it a 3-1 Bugs spread. Burke Simpson and Trenten Heyde picked up the helpers on the tally. Amarillo would get back within one goal when Glebs Prohorenkovs rammed home a tally down low to make it a 3-2 contest. The reigning champs put the game away at 10:03 when Austin Brimmer found a speedy Connor Gatto from the right wing who backhanded home his team-leading 15th goal of the season to push the lead to 4-2. Brimmer and Simpson earned the assists on the last goal of the game.
Simon Bucheler made 26 saves to earn the win in net and help Shreveport pick up their 10th victory in their past 12 games.
The Bugs and Bulls will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night from the Amarillo Civic Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.