Kyrzakos Scores Twice as Mudbugs Top 'Kings
 
SOUTHAVEN, MS – Jeff Kyrzakos scored both Mudbugs goals in his second game with the team to help Bossier-Shreveport edge the Mississippi RiverKings 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the DeSoto Civic Center. John DeCaro made 29 saves as the ‘Bugs won on the road for the third consecutive Saturday to even their record at 3-3-0.
 
Kyrzakos’ second goal of the night broke a 1-1 tie in the third period just minutes after Mississippi had evened the score. The ‘Bugs outshot the RiverKings 35-30 and scored a powerplay goal for the fifth consecutive game in the win.
 
It didn’t take long for the bad blood to surface between the two rivals in their first meeting of the year, with three fights and a total of 52 penalty minutes between the teams the opening period. The ‘Bugs took a 1-0 lead into the locker room thanks to Jeff Kyrzakos’ first goal with the team. Just 22 seconds into a Mudbugs powerplay, Kyrzakos backhanded the rebound of Simon Mangos’ shot past Ray Jean to put Bossier-Shreveport on top after 20 minutes.
 
The penalty numbers decreased in the second period, but the rough play didn’t as the teams exchanged words and pushes after nearly every whistle. The Mudbugs outshot Mississippi 14-6 in the middle frame, but couldn’t add to their lead and took the 1-0 advantage into the third.
 
Mississippi quickly tied the game on the powerplay when Louis Dumont tipped in a long Derek Landmesser shot early in the third. Less than two minutes later though, Kyrzakos fired a wrist shot into the top corner past Jean to regain the lead for Bossier-Shreveport. The Mudbugs held on for the remainder of the period to bring home their third victory of the season.
 
John DeCaro goes to 3-1-0 with his third consecutive win, while Jean made 33 saves in his second loss this season. The ‘Bugs converted 1 of 9 powerplay chances, while the RiverKings were 1 for 5 on the powerplay.
 
The Mudbugs will return to the ice with a pair of home games against the Odessa Jackalopes at 7:05 pm next Friday and Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. Group packages and mini-plans are available through the Mudbugs office at 752-BUGS, while individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at 741-9700.