The Shreveport Mudbugs split the weekend with the Corpus Christi IceRays at home over the weekend.  The Saturday night loss ended the eight-game winning streak for the Mudbugs.  Corpus Christi also ended the eight-game home winning streak for the ‘Bugs.  

The Mudbugs are currently tied for second place with the red-hot El Paso Rhinos who have won their last nine.  Lone Star still sits atop the South Division with 54 points. Amarillo is creeping up in fourth with 45 points.

Mudbugs 5, Corpus Christi 0 (Friday)

The Mudbugs struck first early as Carter McKay scored with assists from Ian Emery and Logan Heroux.   The Mudbugs had two opportunities for power plays later in the first period but were unable to add to their lead.  The second power play was cut short as Heroux was called for roughing.  The Mudbugs survived the shortened power play.  With 21 seconds remaining in the first period, Brayden Cook popped the net with help from Hayden Nichol and Ryan Burke.  Shreveport led 2-0 after one period. 

Hayden Nichol had his chance to score in the last two minutes of the second period.  Liam Fleet and Wil Murphy were credited with the assist.  The Mudbugs carried the 3-0 lead into the final period.  

The chippiness began to show through on the ice starting with a boarding call against Andrew Seminara.  The Mudbugs survived the power play.  Shreveport’s Ian Emery and Corpus Christi’s Carter Krenke were each called for roughing and sent to 4-on-4.   Hayden Nichol struck again and pushed the Mudbug lead to 4-0.  Murphy and Cook were given the assists.  Another 4-on-4 opportunity arose with Liam Fleet and goalkeeper Bryant Marks were called for roughing again.  Fleet tagged on a charging call.  Corpus Christi got a third roughing call in the third period.  Shreveport netted the power play goal with a shot from Lucas Deeb with assists from Murphy and Burke.  Shreveport held on for the 5-0 shutout.

Elliot Seguin-Lescarbeau had 24 saves in the clean sheet.  

Corpus Christi 5, Mudbugs 2 (Saturday)

The tension spilled over to Saturday night as Ryan Burke was given a roughing call along with Zakhar Polshakov was charged with interference sending the action to 4-on-4.  Corpus Christi grabbed two quick goals from Pierson Sobush and Luca Fascianoto jumped to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period.  Shreveport would begin to close the gap as Logan Heroux netted a goal with an assist from Kyle Haldenby.  The Mudbugs would be given a power play with a little under three minutes remaining.  Nick Marino scored halfway through the power play and tied at 2-2.  Halendby picked up his second assist of the night.  

The deadlock was finally broken late in the second period with a goal from Ryan Hintz.  Corpus Christi led 3-2 

The third period saw some more 4-on-4 skate with a hooking call for the Ice Rays and Logab Heroux called for unsportsmanlike conduct.   The Ice Rays maintained their lead.  The Ice Rays would give up three more power plays, but Shreveport could not close the gap.  On the third power play, the Mudbigs pulled the goalie to get an extra man only to have it backfire as Billy Biedermann snagged the empty netter.  Less than a minute later, the Ice Rays would score another empty-net goal and grab the 5-3 win

Shreveport will continue their three-weekend homestand with a series against the Odessa Jackalopes starting on Friday at 7:11 pm at George’s Pond.