The Shreveport Mudbugs (5-6-2) couldn’t recover after a rough opening period and lost 4-1 to the Amarillo Wranglers Friday night at the Amarillo Civic Center.
Amarillo got off to a fast start after an unfortunate bounce off the end boards gave Nikolas Campbell an empty net as he was able to tap in his third goal of the year to make it a 1-0 Wranglers lead at 5:16 of the opening period. The Wranglers would add on at 10:37 when a perfect shot off of Simon Bucheler’s pads bounced right on the stick of Glebs Prohorenkovs who pelted in his fifth tally of the season as Shreveport trailed 2-0. The Bugs couldn’t get much going offensively for the exception of two good looks on their first PP attempt. Amarillo led in SOG, 9-5 after one.
The Wranglers extended their lead in the 2nd period when Bryce Battaglia turned around from the RW circle and fired home his first tally of the season to make it a 3-0 contest. The Bugs finally got on the board at 12:46 when Billy Feczko rifled home his third goal of the year from the slot to cut the deficit down to 3-1. Feczko’s linemates Austin Brimmer and Logan Valkama earned the helpers on Shreveport’s first goal of the game. The Bugs were fortunate to be down just two goals being out-shot 30-12 after two.
The defending champs just couldn’t get much going in the third period as they gave up another goal from Amarillo after coming up empty on a PP opportunity. It was Battaglia who would race in on a breakaway and backhand home his second goal of the game to push the Wranglers’ lead to 4-1 at 12:43.
Shreveport was out-shot 42-18 as they dropped their third straight against Amarillo in this young season.
The Bugs and Bulls will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night from the Amarillo Civic Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.