The Mudbugs ended the 2022 year with fireworks by exploding 12 goals against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. This made Shreveport winners of the last 9 of 10 and moving into third place and within 5 points of second place. The boys will now get an eight-game homestand starting next weekend.
Mudbugs 7, Corpus Christi 3
The boys struck quickly with Eric Vitale scoring just 22 seconds into the game. Maksim Sushchynski and Drake Morse were given the assists. Mudbugs bumped the lead to 2-0 when Jake Mack netted the goal as Ryan Burke and Matthew Danzinger were given the assist. Corpus Christi closed the gap before end of the first period, but the Mudbugs took a 2-1 lead into the second period.
Shreveport had a strong second period adding a goal by captain Garrett Steele and assist from Logan Gotinsky and Tristan Zarksy. Corpus Christi survived a power play. The Ice Rays were shorthanded once again as Blake Lewis was called for high-sticking. The Mudbugs were given a 5-on-3 opportunity just a little over 30 seconds later as Eli Reimer was sent to the sin bin for cross checking. The Ice Rays had killed all three penalties. The Mudbugs increased its lead to 4-1 as Eric Vitale netted his second goal of the night in the last two minutes of the second period. Suschynski and Morse each grabbed their second assists of the night.
An active first ten minutes of the third period saw five goal cross hit the net. The Ice Rays scored in the first 22 seconds of the third period. Back to back quick goals within less than a minute of each other happened in the fourth minute of the third for the Mudbugs. Danzinger scored woth help from Gotinsky and Brent Litchard. Kason Muscutt struck next 47 seconds later to push the lead to 6-2. Ryan Burke and Jake Mack were on the assist. Corpus Christi added another goal as Blake Lewis scored. Shreveport had the last say as Drake Morse put the biscuit in the basket. Sushchynski got his third assists of the evening. Logan Heroux added his 14th assist of the season giving the Mudbugs the 7-3 win.
Mudbugs 5, Corpus Christi 1
Corpus Christi broke the nine game run of the Mudbugs scoring the first goal. Dylan Contreras scored in the first five minutes of the game. The goal didn’t rattle Shreveport as Maksim Sushchynski scored just under two minutes later. Danzinger and Morse grabbed the assists. Logan Gotinsky added another goal later in the first period with Litchard and Steele with the assists. Shreveport ended the first period up 2-1.
Ryan Burke added an insurance goal late in the second period to give the Mudbugs a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.
Morse added a third period goal with help from Vitale. The lone power play goal for either team during the series was to the Mudbugs as Burke scored midway through the final period. Hayden Nichol and Garrett Steele were given the assists. Shreveport would take the second game
of the series 5-1 in the weekend sweep.
Shreveport Mudbugs will be home the next four weekends starting Friday against a weekend series with El Paso Rhinos.
First Line
Maksim Sushchynski, D, 1G 3A 3 shots +5
Matthew Danzinger, D, 1G 2A 3 shots, +4
Drake Morse, F, 2G 3A 6 shots +4
Ryan Burke, F, 2G 2A 8 shots +2
Tommy Aitken, G, 1-0-0-0, 26 saves, .963 GAA
Second Line
Tristan Zarsky, D, 1A 8 shots +2
Ryan Austin, D, 1A 3 shots +2
Eric Vitale, F, 2G 1A 11 shots +4
Jake Mack, F, 1G 2A 4 shots +2
South Division
| W-L-OTL-SOL | PTS | |
| Lone Star Brahmas | 22-2-1-3 | 48 |
| Oklahoma Warriors | 20-6-0-1 | 41 |
| Shreveport Mudbugs | 16-10-2-2 | 36 |
| New Mexico Ice Wolves | 16-11-1-1 | 34 |
| Amarillo Wranglers | 15-10-2-1 | 33 |
| Odessa Jackalopes | 12-14-0-1 | 25 |
| El Paso Rhinos | 10-15-2-0 | 22 |
| Corpus Christi Ice Rays | 6-19-5-0 | 17 |
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