The Shreveport Mudbugs (9-5) didn’t need much goal support this time around with the spectacular goaltending from Richie Parent to help shutout the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, 2-0 Saturday night at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum.
The Bugs and Ice Rays felt each other out in a scoreless opening period. Both teams came up empty on their respective PP chances. The Bugs led in SOG, 11-4 after one period of play.
Shreveport broke through on the powerplay in the 2nd period when Tim Khokhlachev wired home his fourth goal of the year from the right circle off a perfect pass from Sam Miller to give the Bugs the 1-0 lead at 5:25 of the 2nd period. Jake Smith earned the secondary helper on the game’s first goal. The home team led in SOG, 21-9 after two periods of play.
The Bugs held off a few furious surges from the Ice Rays thanks to great goaltending from Richie Parent all night long. At 19:56, Conor Witherspoon would fire home an EN goal to seal up a 2-0 victory in front of a packed pond in Shreveport. It was Witherspoon’s second goal of the season and weekend which was assisted by Ryan Dickinson.
Parent earned his first shutout of the season making 24 saves on the night.
Shreveport improved to 4-0 at George’s Pond in Hirsch Coliseum this season.
The Mudbugs will get back on the road and visit the newest team in the South Division in the New Mexico Ice Wolves for a two-game series starting next Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.