The homestand turned for the weekend as the Mudbugs were swept by the Wichita Falls Warriors this past weekend. This will make lose 3 of the last 4 games while back on home ice. The Mudbugs dropped to seventh place and are four points out of sixth place. The playoff gap now sits at 10 points. The Mudbugs ended the series with five consecutive goalless periods.
Warriors 5, Mudbugs 3
The Mudbugs came into tonight winning 7 of the last 8 games. Shreveport didn’t waste time to continue their run. Timofei Khokhlachev netted the first goal of the game just a little over 2 minutes into the first period. Logan Gotinsky was credited with the assist. Wichita Falls was the first to the sin bin with a hooking call on Adam Smith. With 23 seconds remaining in the power play, Jake Mack pushed the Mudbugs to 2-0. Davis Goukler gained the assist. Mack then spent his time in the penalty box behind a boarding call. The Mudbugs were successful in killing the power play. The Warriors got on the scoreboard with 7:54 left in the first with a goal by Brendan Williams. Khokhlachev struck for the second time with a little under five minutes left in the first to give the Mudbugs a 3-1 lead. Lukas Sedlacek grabbed the assist point. The high-scoring first period led to high emotions on the ice. Burke Simpson was charged with hooking. Wichita Falls Joseph Harguindeguy and Mudbug Lukas Sedlacek received roughing penalties. Wichita Falls would have a power play of 4 on 3 on the ice. Mudbugs survived. With two seconds remaining in the power play, Wichita Falls would give a power play that would carry forward into the second period. Shreveport would carry the 3-1 lead into the second period. Wichita Falls outshot Shreveport 16-11.
Wichita Falls roared back in the second period. Ryan Robinson struck first just a little over 2 minutes into the second period. The tying goal came just three minutes later with a goal by Adisen Burke. Davis Goukler’s boarding call gave the Warriors a power play. Shreveport received a power play about six seconds after Goukler returned to the ice. Cade Lemmer headed to the penalty box on a high sticking call. Both teams escaped still tied 3-3. Wichita Falls had one more power play with Garrett Steele being called for tripping. The Warriors broke the tie with a power-play goal from Victor Corcoran. Wichita Falls would take a 4-3 lead into the second period. The Warriors once again outshot Shreveport 17-16.
Wichita Falls held on to the lead in the third period. Shreveport pulled Simon Bucheler for an extra man on the ice. Owen Bumgartner scored the insurance empty netter with 50 seconds left to give the Warriors the 5-3 win.
Warriors 2, Mudbugs 0
Game 2 of the series looked to go defensive. It did not lack penalties. Both teams combined for 16 penalties for the night. Shreveport’s defense crushed nine power plays for the night. The physical game took its toll as the Mudbugs will be without Davis Goukler this upcoming weekend against Corpus Christi.
The Warriors set the pace in the first six minutes on how physical the game would become. Cade Lemmer was given a major boarding penalty and gross misconduct which eliminated him for the remainder of the period. Wichita Falls five minute penalty was cut short with about 75 seconds remaining. Shreveport’s Gunner Moore was sent to the sin bin with a hooking call. Wichita Falls gave Shreveport another power play with a Ryan Robinson cross-checking and Joseph Harguindeguy roughing minor. Shreveport only enjoyed the 5 on 3 for 11 seconds as Lukas Sedlacek was called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct to still give the Mudbugs a one-man advantage. No luck on a goal though. The chippy first period ended with a checking from behind the major along with gross misconduct. Neither team found the back of the net in the first period. Wichita Falls outshot Shreveport 6-2.
The referee whistle calmed down until the last five minutes of the second period. Billy Feczko was given a tripping penalty. The Mudbugs survived the power play. Jake Mack has a second power play to the Warriors. This power play was shortened as Warrior Owen Bumgartner was sent to the penalty box in the final 12 seconds of the period. The game remained scoreless after two periods. Wichita Falls outshot Shreveport again at 13-3. Shreveport had only taken 5 shots the entire game after two periods.
The stalemate finally fell in the first four minutes of the final period when Wichita Fall’s Dominick Rivelli netted the first goal of the game. The chippy play returned. Niklas Miller was charged with a 10 minute unsportsmanlike and roughing call. Timofei Khokhlachev was given a slashing call. The Mudbugs survived once again. Collin Doherty followed just 47 seconds later. Shreveport killed the power play more time. A last dash effort for the Mudbugs to tie the game pulling Bobak at goalie. With 13 seconds remaining, Wichita Falls grabbed the empty netter.
Shreveport will get another homestand and celebrate local churches with the “God and Goals” weekend. The Mudbugs will take on the Corpus Christi Ice Rays.
First Line
| Player | Position | Stats |
| Davis Goukler | D | 1 ast, 1 shot, -3 |
| Gunner Moore | D | 2 shots, +1 |
| Timofei Khokhlachev | F | 2 goals, 7 shots, -1 |
| Jake Mack | F | 1 goal, 1 shot, +\- 0 |
| Simon Bucheler | G | 35 saves |
Second Line
| Player | Position | Stats |
| Tyler Behl | D | 4 shots, -2 |
| Evan Mitchell | D | 1 shot, +1 |
| Logan Gotinsky | F | 1 ast, 2 shots, 0 +\- |
| Lukas Sedlacek | F | 1 ast, 1 shot, +1 |
South Division Standings
| W-L-OTL-SOL | PTS | |
| New Mexico | 20-10-1-1 | 42 |
| Amarillo | 19-10-1-1 | 40 |
| Odessa | 19-11-1-1 | 40 |
| Lone Star | 16-9-4-2 | 38 |
| Wichita Falls | 14-12-4-2 | 34 |
| Corpus Christi | 15-16-2-0 | 32 |
| Shreveport | 12-14-1-3 | 28 |
| El Paso | 12-16-2-1 | 27 |
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