The Shreveport Mudbugs (27-11-2) had Colin Vassallo in the right place at the right time to fire home the game-winning goal in OT to help beat the New Mexico Ice Wolves, 3-2 at Outpost Ice Arenas Friday night.
The Bugs got on the board at 14:54 as Andrew Seminara threw a shot toward the net which might have bounced off a defender’s skate and into the net for his third tally of the year. Seminara’s goal gave SHV the early 1-0 lead and was assisted by Carter McKay and Andrej Paricka. NM led in SOG, 9-5 after one.
NM capitalized on the PP in the second period when Olivier Lamothe poked in his 10th goal off an odd-man rush to even the score, 1-1 at 4:34. SHV regained the lead at 14:54 as Seminara threw a shot which deflected in front for Lucas Deeb to drill home his 13th tally of the year to give the Bugs a 2-1 edge. Seminara picked up his second point of the game earning the only assist on the goal. NM led in SOG, 18-15 after two.
NM evened up the score at 3:02 of the third period as Luca Ricci sliced in his second goal of the year from the short side.
The game stayed tied going into OT and it was Maksim Sushchynski finding Colin Vassallo along the far side who rifled in his ninth goal of the campaign propelling SHV to a dramatic 3-2 victory over NM.
Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau made 21 stops to earn his 17th win in net.
The Bugs and Ice Wolves will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT from Outpost Ice Arenas.