At the beginning of December, the view for the beloved Shreveport Mudbugs was very grim as they sat in last place and six points out from the seventh place. The six-week road trip was not very kind to the boys. Last weekend, a ray of playoff hope has shone through. The Mudbugs took 4 of a possible 6 points over the weekend but moved into fourth place. The top four in the South Division will qualify for playoffs. The boys have now moved from a seasonal offense attack to a defense of staying in the top four. The Mudbugs bumped the Odessa Jackalopes down to the fifth. A make up game against division-leading New Mexico Ice Wolves gave fans a Sunday Funday at George’s Pond.
Mudbugs 6, Odessa 3 (Friday)
It take long before the penalty box began to be used. Logan Volkama made the first trip just 13 seconds into the game on a head contact call. Shreveport survived the power play. The Mudbugs received their first power play on a tripping call on Desmond Johnson. Jackalopes made it through the power play. Another opportunity for the Mudbugs was available with another tripping call just less than 45 seconds after the return to full strength. Shreveport’s Connor Gatto made the Jackalopes pay this time on the power play goal. Burke Simpson and Austin Brimmer we’re credited with the assists. Lukas Sedlacek made a trip to the sin bin with 2:28 left in the first period. Shreveport held strong and maintained their 1-0 lead heading into the second period
Shreveport expanded its lead when Logan Fursteneau scored with assists from Haydon Nichol and Evan Mitchell. The two goal lead wasn’t celebrated long as Odessa’s Ryan Mansfield cut the lead to 2-1 less than a minute later. Mansfield tied the game at the midway point in the second period. Fursteneau gave Shreveport the lead back with a little under seven minutes remaining. Trenton Heyde was charged with a holding penalty. With six seconds left in the power play, Burke Simspson scored a short-handed goal to push The Mudbugs’ lead to 4-2. Simpson had the hot stick and netted another goal 30 seconds later with some help from Brimmer and Heyde. Shreveport not only carried a 5-2 lead into the third period but also a 30-second one-man advantage due to a boarding penalty by Odessa’s Nick Ahern.
The two teams traded power-play each with no goal scored. Timofei Khokhlachev got into the scoring fun with some help from Sedlacek. With a little under 3:30 remaining, Trevor Taullen and Logan Valkama tangled and went to the penalty box. Mudbugs gave Valkama some company in the penalty box and gave the Jackalopes a one-man advantage. Ryan Kelly scored the power play goal late. Mudbugs hung on for the win.
Devon Bobak took the win as goalie with 20 saves. Shreveport outshot Odessa 36-23. Shreveport was 1 for 4 on the power play. Odessa was 1 for 6.
Mudbugs 4, Odessa 1 (Saturday)
Each team had a power play opportunity that was squashed in the first period. Odessa took the early lead with a goal by John Perdion with a little under four minutes remaining. Odessa rolled into the second period with the 1-0 lead.
Simon Bucheler had 29 saves in the loss. New Mexico outshot Shreveport 31-20. Shreveport was 0 for 1 on the power play.
The Mudbugs took to scoring goals quickly in the second period. Timofei Khokhlachev netted the tying goal just a little over two minutes into the second later. Logan Gotinsky was given the assist. Just 30 seconds later, Austin Brimmer gave Shreveport the lead with help from Connor Gatto and Carter Green. Logan Valkama spent some time in the penalty box on a tripping call, but the Mudbugs kept their lead. Odessa allowed a power-play behind Ryan Kelly cross-checking. The Mudbugs took advantage as Burke Simpson scored with assists from Jacob Onstott and Valkama. Shreveport made it a four-goal second period with Logan Heroux and Jacob Onstott with Evan Mitchell getting the assists. Shreveport had taken a huge 4-1 lead after two periods.
Shreveport and Odessa were scoreless in the third period and clinched the sweep of the Jackalopes on home ice. The win also pushed the Mudbugs into fourth place.
Devon Bobak achieved his 20th win of the season with 26 saves. Odessa slightly outshot Shreveport 27-23. Shreveport went 1 for 3 on the power play.
New Mexico 2, Mudbugs 1 (Sunday)
New Mexico took the extra three-hour ride East after their series with Lone Star to make up a game that was postponed back on February 4 due to travel complications. The Shreveport fans were treated to a Sunday afternoon game against the top team in the South Division.
Shreveport received the first power play opportunity with a hooking minor penalty called against Brandon Holt. Shreveport was unable to take advantage. The Mudbugs returned the favor with 45 seconds left in the first period when Gunner Moore was called for hooking. No score in the first 45 seconds of the 2 minute power play. The remaining 1:15 would be at the start of the second period. The game was scoreless after one period.
The Mudbugs survived the lingering power play from the first period. Midway through the second period, New Mexico broke the scoreless tie with a goal. Logan Valkama brought Shreveport back even with a goal with 4:29 to go in the second period. Garrett Steele and Drake Morse were credited with the assists. New Mexico and Shreveport were tied at 1-1 after two periods.
New Mexico took the game-winning goal in the first five minutes of the third by Nicloas Haviar. New Mexico broke the 7 game winning streak for the Mudbugs at home.
The Mudbugs will have some tough competition to maintain that coveted fourth slot. They will face the top two teams in the South Division over the next two weekends. This upcoming weekend Shreveport will have a homestand against the heated rival Lone Star Brahmas. Next week they will make the 14-hour trip to Albuquerque to face the NAHL points leading New Mexico Ice Wolves.
First Line
| Player | Position | Stats |
| Logan Heroux | D | 1 G, 5 Shots, 0 +\- |
| Evan Mitchell | D | 2 A, 1 shot, +3 |
| Austin Brimmer | F | 1 G, 2 A, 11 shots, +2 |
| Burke Simpson | F | 3 G, 1 A, 13 shots, +1 |
| Devon Bobak | G | 2 wins, 20th win of season, 46 saves |
Second Line
| Player | Position | Stats |
| Trenton Heyde | D | 1 A, 3 shots, +1 |
| John Hallard | D | 3 shots, +1 |
| Logan Furstenau | F | 2 G, 8 shots, +1 |
| Timofei Khokhlachev | F | 2 G, 6 shots, +1 |
South Division Standings
| W-L-OTL-SOL | PTS | |
| New Mexico | 34-13-1-2 | 71 |
| Lone Star | 29-11-5-3 | 66 |
| Wichita Falls | 24-15-5-3 | 66 |
| Shreveport | 24-18-1-4 | 53 |
| Odessa | 24-19-1-4 | 53 |
| Amarillo | 23-22-1-2 | 49 |
| Corpus Christi | 23-25-2-0 | 48 |
| El Paso | 13-31-2-2 | 30 |
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