Week two of the road trip looked a lot like Week one as the Mudbugs only gained one point in the NAHL standings. The lack of standing points is starting to catch up with the Mudbugs. Shreveport is now in fifth place and only three points separate fifth from seventh place. Although the Mudbugs are only one point out of the fourth spot, the gap in the top three is five points, more than they can gain over one weekend. The Mudbugs suffered another shutout on Friday night and another heartbreaking lead slip away and lose in a shoot-out loss. Shreveport is 1-4 when they need an extra period to decide the game. The Mudbugs were also 0-for-7 on power plays for the weekend.
New Mexico 3, Mudbugs 0
A quiet first period left both teams with a power play or a goal. New Mexico ended the stalemate in the second period with a goal by Dillon Kuntz. Shreveport was able to get a couple of power plays but was unable to score. New Mexico took the 1-0 lead after two periods.
New Mexico added another goal early in the final period with Tony Leahy. A little over two minutes later, Leahy struck again with another goal to give New Mexico the 3-0 lead. Shreveport received a couple of power plays but went 0-for-4 on the power play for the night. Shreveport outshot New Mexico 29-25 for the night.
New Mexico took the 3-0 win.
New Mexico 2, Mudbugs 1 (SOL)
Another defensive battle broke out on Saturday night. Shreveport got the opportunity for a power play late in the first period that would carry forward to the second period. Neither team scored in the first period.
The Ice Wolves survived the overhanging power play from the first period into the second period. Shreveport received another power play in the second period when Sully Schole was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking. Just 34 seconds into the power play, Camden Benson receive an interference call and gave the Mudbugs a 5-on-3 advantage on the ice for a short period. Shreveport was unable to capitalize. The two ended the second period still scoreless.
Shreveport scored their first goal of the weekend a little over three minutes into the third period. Kason Muscutt netted the goal with an assist from Matthew Danzinger. Shreveport raced to hold on to the lead. Niklas Miller was sent to the penalty box on a slashing call, but the Mudbugs survived the power play. With 4:33 remaining, Hunter Hastings grabbed a game-tying goal to set up overtime.
A very active overtime but no goals as Shreveport fired 8 shots to New Mexico’s 4. Overtime expired and the two were still knotted at 1-1.
Headed to a shootout, Garrett Steele scored for the Mudbugs. Sully Scholle countered the goal. Shreveport missed their next goal, but New Mexico’s Yusaku Ando netted the winning shot.
Shreveport will head closer to home this coming weekend as they will come to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and face the first-place Lone Star Brahmas.
First Line
Logan Heroux, D, 9 shots, 0 +\-
Matthew Danzinge, D, 5 shots, -1
Kason Muscutt, F, 1 goal, 3 shots, +1
Jaden Goldie, F, 10 shots, 0 +/-
Tommy Aitken, G, 29 saves, 0-0-0-1, .966 Save %
Second Line
Austin Ryan, D, 4 shots, 0 +\-
Liam Fleet, D, 2 shots, 0 +\-
Drake Morse, F, 6 shots, 0 +\-
Garrett Steele, F, 5 shots, 0 +\-
South Division Standings
| W-L-OTL-SOL | Pts | |
| Lone Star | 13-1-0-1 | 27 |
| New Mexico | 11-2-0-1 | 23 |
| Oklahoma | 10-2-0-1 | 21 |
| Amarillo | 8-5-0-1 | 17 |
| Shreveport | 6-8-2-2 | 16 |
| El Paso | 7-7-0-0 | 14 |
| Odessa | 6-7-0-1 | 13 |
| Corpus Christi | 2-12-2-0 | 6 |
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