The Shreveport Mudbugs (33-12-4) got a big goal from one of their Captains to claw past the Oklahoma Warriors, 3-2 in OT and clinch a Robertson Cup Playoff berth at the Blazers Ice Centre Friday night.
After OKC scored early in the game, the Bugs responded at 7:25 of the opening period on the PP as Nick Marino took a perfect pass into the slot and buried home his 17th goal of the season to even the score, 1-1. Hayden Nichol and Logan Heroux earned the helpers on the special teams tally.
Early into the second period at 1:21, SHV capitalized on the man-advantage again as Brent Litchard had some space along the short side and slipped in his seventh of the season to give the visiting team a 2-1 edge. Liam Fleet picked up the only assist. William Ahlrik would get Oklahoma even as he scored on a breakaway at 12:14 to make it a 2-2 contest.
The game would stay tied 2-2 after the third period sending the game into Overtime. At 1:58 in the extra session, Nichol would find time and space in the LW circle and snipe in his 18th goal of the season which was the GW tally helping SHV top OKC, 3-2. Fleet picked up his second assist on the night.
Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau was superb yet again in net making 36 stops to improve his record to a very impressive 22-4-1 on the campaign. SHV won for the 10th time in their past 11 games.
The Bugs and Warriors will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from Blazers Ice Centre.