The Shreveport Mudbugs (6-8-4) couldn’t hold a slim lead late in the game and stumbled to a 2-1 shootout loss to the New Mexico Ice Wolves at Outpost Ice Arenas Saturday night.
It was a tough two periods of scoreless hockey for the Bugs. They out-shot NM, 26-17 through two and were unable to cash in on three PP chances including a two-man advantage for 1:26.
The Bugs broke the ice early in the third period when Kason Muscutt redirected home his second goal of the season in front off a shot from Matthew Danziger from the right point to make it a 1-0 contest at 3:20. NM would roar back late in the 3rd period at 15:27 when Hunter Hastings slipped a shot past Tommy Aitken for his third tally of the year and even the score, 1-1.
The game stayed tied going into the shootout and it was goals from Sully Scholle and Yusaku Ando which were the difference for the Ice Wolves to get past the slumping Mudbugs, 2-1.
The Bugs are now winless in their last five games going 0-3-2 in this stretch.
The Bugs will resume their season-long road trip against their most storied rival in the Lone Star Brahmas for a two-game series beginning next Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Nytex Sports Centre.