Mudbugs Claw Past Jacks in OT

Feb 4, 2023

The Shreveport Mudbugs (21-13-6) flipped the script and knocked off the Odessa Jackalopes, 5-4 in OT earning three points in the series at Ector County Coliseum Saturday night.
The Jacks scored the opening goal at 7:29 of the 1st as Ryan Mansfield got free in the slot and slammed in his 16th goal of the year to give ODA an early 1-0 edge. The home team would add another at 14:51 as Tanyon Bajzer got on a breakaway and was able to shoot in his 15th tally of the season to make it a 2-0 contest.
SHV responded with a huge second period and it started at 6:20 when Hayden Nichol slid through the slot and snapped home his eighth goal of the year – top shelf and shorthanded to make it a 2-1 contest. Logan Heroux got the pass over to Nichol and earned the only assist on the Bugs’ first goal. The Mudbugs wouldn’t stop there as Logan Gotinsky created space on a broken play in the near circle and fired home his 12th goal of the campaign to suddenly even the score, 2-2 at 7:58. Aiden Dixon won the neutral zone battle to pick up the only helper on the game-tying tally. SHV would then take their first lead of the series as Jake Mack found a rebound along the far side and powered home his 10th tally of the year and seventh point in his last three games to lift the Bugs to a 3-2 lead 9:19. Heroux and Nichol set the play up and earned the assists on the goal. SHV scored three goals – 2:59 apart. ODA came back with a flukey goal from Dayne Hoyord as he threw a shot towards the net which deflected its way into the net to make it a 3-3 contest at 10:28.
Odessa would regain the lead at 8:36 of the third period Ryan Kelly found the backdoor on and jabbed in his 11th goal of the year to give the Jacks a 4-3 lead. SHV responded yet again at 17:37 when Ryan Burke raced towards the net and faked out their goalie and tucked in his ninth goal of the year along the far side to even the score again, 4-4. Heroux picked up his third assist on the game-tying tally.
The contest would go into OT where Hayden Nichol would throw a quality shot on net which set up a rebound and it was Nick Marino shoveling home the game-winning goal at 1:58 to lift the Bugs to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Jackalopes.
Nikola Goich earned the win net making 18 saves on the night.

The Bugs continue their road trip over to Albuquerque, NM to begin a two-game series Game one will be next Friday night from Outpost Ice Arenas with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.