The Shreveport Mudbugs (15-8) fell late in the game to the Lone Star Brahmas, 3-1 on Thanksgiving Eve at Nytex Sports Centre.
The Bugs and Brahmas exchanged powerplay opportunities and came up empty against the top two penalty kill units in the league. Lone Star leads in SOG, 10-6 after one period of play.
The Brahmas scored at 1:21 of the 2nd period as Dylan Smith shot in the tally off a bounce from the end boards to the left circle and tucked it into the far post making it a 1-0 Lone Star lead. The Bugs had some key chances trying to tie the game including one goal which got waved off due to the net coming off. The Brahmas led in SOG, 17-13 after two periods of play.
The Mudbugs tied it up at 3:01 of the 3rd period on a shorthanded breakaway from Janis Vizbelis who blasted home his second goal of the season evening the score, 1-1. Carson Nichols earned the only assist on the Bugs’ lone goal. Lone Star would net the game-winner as Thomas Daskas out of mid air redirected home a puck on the backdoor for a PP tally giving the Brahmas a 2-1 edge at 14:09. The Bugs took some tough penalties late in the game negating much of a chance to tie the game up again and Matt Guerra netted home the EN goal at 19:58 to cap a 3-1 victory for Lone Star over Shreveport.
The Mudbugs out-shot the Brahmas, 28-24.
The Mudbugs will have Thanksgiving weekend off before returning back to George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum Dec. 6th and 7th for the start of an eight-game home-stand. The Bugs will welcome in the New Mexico Ice Wolves for the first time to Shreveport. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:11 p.m. for both contests.