Mudbugs Blowout IceRays

Dec 29, 2022

The Shreveport Mudbugs (15-10-4) got contributions up and down their lineup to help blowout the Corpus Christi IceRays, 7-3 at the American Bank Center Thursday night.
The Bugs picked up where they left off before the Christmas break as Eric Vitale fired home a rebound in front for his fourth goal of the season to put SHV up 1-0 just 20 seconds into the game. Maksim Sushchynski and Drake Morse on Vitale’s early tally. Shreveport would add on at 7:06 of the opening period when Jake Mack shoveled home a rebound in front for his sixth tally of the campaign to make it a 2-0 contest. Ryan Burke stayed hot and picked up another assist along with Matt Danziger. Corpus Christi would respond at 12:51 when Wolfgang Govedaris created some space in the slot and snapped home his first goal of the year to cut the Bugs’ lead to 2-1. SHV led in SOG, 14-13 after 1.
The Bugs extended their lead at 2:12 of the 2nd period when Logan Gotinsky found Captain Garrett Steele racing through the slot as he fired home his team-leading 12th goal of the campaign to make it a 3-1 edge for SHV. Gotinsky and Tristan Zarsky earned the helpers on the Captain’s third goal in as many games. The two-time Robertson Cup Champs would close out the period in style as Vitale crashed the net to find a rebound in front and backhand home his second goal of the game to push the advantage to 4-1 at 18:32. Sushchynski and Morse both picked up their second assist of the night. The Bugs led in SOG, 30-21 after two.
After the IceRays scored early in the third period, the Bugs responded as Danziger drove home his third goal of the year to push the SHV lead to 5-2 at 3:04. Less than a minute later, it was Kason Muscutt getting a pass from Ryan Burke and roofing his fourth goal of the year in front to push the Bugs’ lead to 6-2. After Corpus Christi scored again, the Bugs put the icing on the cake as Logan Heroux hammered home his third tally of the campaign to close out a 7-3 victory.
Simon Bucheler made 29 stops to win his seventh straight start in net.

The Bugs and IceRays will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center.