With the Colorado Eagles and Amarillo Gorillas waiting patiently in the wings to begin the Conference Finals, their opponents will be determined tonight in a pair of Game 7’s to close out the opening round of the 2004-2005 Central Hockey League post-season. In Bossier-Shreveport, the Mudbugs host the Wichita Thunder in one Game 7, while the San Angelo Saints travel to Laredo to face the Bucks in another. 12 times in CHL/WPHL history playoff series have gone the maximum distance of seven games, and 10 times the home team has emerged with the win. Both deciding contests are available live at CHLTV.com.

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Series “B” Game 7 – Wichita @ Bossier-Shreveport
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 3-3
Shane Palahicky changed the complexion of this series late last Saturday night in Game 5, banging home a rebound in double overtime that avoided elimination for the Mudbugs and forced the series back to the CenturyTel Center for Games 6 and 7. A Wichita goal would have given the Thunder a 4-1 series lead, and avoided a trip to Louisiana, where Palahicky again provided the heroics, scoring the game winner in a 3-1 Bossier-Shreveport win. Wichita’s outstanding offensive trio of Jason Duda, Travis Clayton and Joe Blaznek can dominate a game, but struggled, as did the entire club, in Monday’s Game 6. The three day gap between Games 6 and 7 could favor the Thunder, who have had a chance to regroup, while slowing down some of the Mudbugs momentum. If the Mudbugs win Game 7, they will have pulled off an improbable comeback from a 3-1 deficit, and Wichita will lament what could have been on home ice in Game 5. If Wichita wins, they can take credit in avenging last season’s 4 games to 1 Conference Finals loss by winning in enemy territory.

Bossier-Shreveport in Game 7’s
0-2
Lost 3-2 (overtime) in Laredo in Game 7 of 2003-2004 Finals
Lost 4-2 in Memphis in Game 7 of 2001-2002 Semi-Finals

Wichita in Game 7’s
2-0
Won 5-4 (overtime) in Oklahoma City in Game 7 of 1997-1998 Semi-Finals
Won 6-4 vs. Dallas in Game 7 of 1993-1994 Semi-Finals

What They’re Saying…

Scott Muscutt, Mudbugs Coach, in the Shreveport Times:
”We have to look at the big picture, and it says we've got to pay attention to the small details in our game. If you have that focus, there's no room to be tight. The more I think about what I have to do, the less I think about what I can't do. To me that's what tightens you up when you feel that you can't do something or are inadequate in a way."

Derek Laxdal, Thunder Coach, in the Wichita Eagle:
"The biggest thing I see is that we're being outworked as a hockey club. I don't know, maybe we thought it was going to be easy. But you can't count out Bossier. They may not be the most-talented team in the league, but they are the hardest working. This is playoff hockey, and it's exciting. This series has had everything: it's had controversy; it's had exciting finishes; it's had high-scoring games, low-scoring games. If you're a fan, you couldn't ask for anything more. I think Game 7 is gonna be one hell of a hockey game."


Series “C” Game 7 – San Angelo @ Laredo
Best of Seven Game Series Tied 3-3
Saints Goaltender Scott Reid has already equaled the CHL record for shutouts in a playoff season, blanking the Bucks on three separate occasions. The problem is, all three games were on home ice, and San Angelo has failed to win in Laredo yet in the series. Reid can dominate, and his success has a frustrated Bucks club looking for ways to score goals. In the Bucks three home games, they pulled out three –one goal wins, including one in overtime, but have yet to truly click offensively. Laredo’s offense has managed only a total of seven goals in the six series games to date, while San Angelo has scored 12 times, including three each by Bret Dececco and Jonathan Dubois. Throw out the earlier six games, as anything can happen in a Game 7 and likely will, based on the series to date.

Laredo in Game 7’s
1-0
Won 3-2 (overtime) vs. Bossier-Shreveport in Game 7 of 2003-2004 Finals

San Angelo in Game 7’s
0-0
No Game 7 experience

What They’re Saying…

Terry Ruskowski, Bucks Coach, in the Laredo Morning Times:
"In Game 7 I don't really know if there is a home ice advantage. Game 7 is Game 7. Adrenaline is flowing for both teams and hopefully our crowd can get us going in the right direction like they always do. We need our crowd to come and really support us because this is a huge game for us. The more the fans come out the better we react and hopefully that's going to be the case on Thursday. Either we win or we go home."

Ray Edwards, Saints Coach, in the San Angelo Standard Times:
''It's an unfortunate thing. One team is going to have to lose. 'Both teams have battled hard to win the series. We have to be in the right place at the right time and give maximum effort for 60 minutes or more. ...We can't take a shift off or a minute off - the team that does will be the team that loses. It's been that tight, it's been that close.''