The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are a single win away from capturing their fourth franchise title (first as a member of the Central Hockey League), following a dramatic 2-1 OT win over the Laredo Bucks Saturday night in front of 7,285 at the CenturyTel Center. Forbes MacPherson was the overtime hero, banging home a rebound of a Travis Bell slapshot to end the contest just 58 seconds into overtime. The win gives the Mubugs a 3-1 series lead in the 2003-2004 Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals, and an opportunity to claim the title on home ice Sunday in Game Five. The Bucks, meanwhile, need to rebound from three consecutive tight losses to win Sunday and force the series back to Laredo for a Game Six on Tuesday.

Laredo 1 @ Bossier-Shreveport 2 (OT)
Mudbugs Lead President’s Cup Finals 3-1

Bossier-Shreveport controlled the early play in Game Four, with some sustained pressure in the Laredo zone. Both clubs had quality opportunities early on. MacPherson was denied on an early breakaway, stoned by Laredo starter Marco Emond. Moments later, Laredo nearly capitalized on the power play, with Jeff Bes wiring a snap shot that beat Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll but caught the goalpost, deflecting away harmlessly. The Mudbugs did open the scoring, finding the back of the net for the fourth consecutive time, as Jim Sprott snapped a wicked wrist shot high past Emond.

Laredo got the equalizer 6:35 into the middle frame, with defenseman Steve Weidich picking up a loose puck in the Mudbugs zone, then circling behind the net and scoring on a wraparound attempt. From there, both goaltenders and the defense held, forcing the 89th playoff overtime in CHL/WPHL history. The Bucks nearly ended the game late in the third period, catching the Mudbugs on a poor line change that set up a two on one break, but Brentt Cullaton’s backhand attempt was stopped by Carroll.

The overtime period had barely begun when MacPherson ended the game. Travis Bell’s hard slapshot off a faceoff was stopped by Emond, but the rebound went directly to MacPherson on his left, who slammed home the game winner, his sixth in the post-season.