The Mudbugs only needed one point to reach the playoffs. One of the scenarios included the Mudbugs just going into overtime and they didn’t even have to win. But why not take advantage when you have the South Division regular season champ Oklahoma Warriors on the ropes? The Mudbugs swept the Warriors in a 4-3 OT win on Friday night and 5-2 on Saturday. The Mudbugs reaching overtime on Friday placed them in the playoffs. Shreveport also knows they will be no lower seed than third and knows that its first-round playoff opponents in the playoffs will be the Lone Star Brahmas.
With some help from Odessa taking two of three from Lone Star, gave the Warrior also clinched the regular season title. The 1 of 3 weekend for the Brahmas left them vulnerable to Shreveport still being in pursuit of the second seed in the playoffs. What’s the importance of the second seed? Home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Shreveport has a 5-2-0-1 record against the Brahmas this season. The Mudbugs are 3-0-0-1 at home against Lone Star and 2-2 on the road.
The question arises about whether is it possible. Yes. The Mudbugs are facing four games remaining against two teams that are playing their finals games of the season. The Mudbugs are also 12-0-0-0 against El Paso and Corpus Christi. Lone Star could have their hands full with an Amarillo Wranglers team still fighting for its playoff life. Lone Star currently has 3 points lead over Shreveport in the standings. With a sweep by the Mudbugs and the Wranglers sweeping Lone Star, Shreveport could exit the weekend in second place. If Lone Star finds success this weekend, Shreveport will have to at least match their success to make the second-place spot race continue to next week.
In another South Division playoff scenario, three teams are still alive for the final playoff spot. New Mexico currently holds down the spot with 65 points. The defending South Division champs have been 4-6 in their last ten games. The Ice Wolves will face still-alive Odessa Jackalopes who are in sixth place with 59 points. The Jackalopes will have to sweep the weekend to keep in the playoff run. Amarillo is also in the mix with 63 points. A sweep by New Mexico and Lone Star will eliminate the Wranglers from the playoffs. If New Mexico splits its series, Amarillo will have to win one game of its series or be eliminated. If Amarillo splits with Lone Star and New Mexico sweeps Odessa, New Mexico would clinch the spot. The Wranglers could take over the fourth spot with a sweep of the Brahmas and an Odessa sweep of New Mexico. Even more interesting if all three teams are alive heading into the final weekend, Amarillo will travel to Odessa for the last weekend.
Playoffs could be set this weekend or lead to the wild final weekend of the regular season.
Shreveport will begin its quest for second place on Friday night with its final regular season homestand against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. The puck drops at 7:11 pm.
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