Mudbugs Clinch 5th Straight Division Title
 
HIDALGO, TX – A four-goal outburst in the less than two minutes during the first period propelled the Mudbugs to a 7-3 win over Rio Grande Valley in a Kid’s Day Game on Tuesday morning at the Dodge Arena.  The victory also clinched Bossier-Shreveport’s fifth consecutive Northeast Division Championship, ensuring them at least a top two seed in the Northern Conference playoffs.

The Mudbugs got two goals each from Jason Campbell and Kevin Cooper, scoring seven goals in a game for the third time this season to snap their three-game losing streak in style.  Daniel Pegoraro had a goal and an assist and the Bugs got two assists each from Chris Brassard, Elias Godoy and Joe Ori to finish 3-0 against the Killer Bees and 11-2 against the Southern Conference this season.

The Mudbugs didn’t have any problems getting into the early morning contest, exploding with four goals in 1:59 early in the first period.  Pegoraro opened the scoring, beating A.J. Bucchino through the five hole at 3:40 of the first to start the onslaught.  Campbell then got into the act for Bossier-Shreveport, finishing off a pass from Mike Falk on a 2-on-1 break to make it 2-0 and chasing Bucchino from the game.  His replacement, David Lemanowicz, didn’t fare much better, watching “Soupy” Campbell bury his second goal in 33 seconds on a rebound to make it 3-0.  Tyrel Lucas scored the fourth goal, unleashing his lethal blast from the slot to put the shell-shocked Bees behind 4-0.  Rio Grande Valley did get on the board later in the first on a goal from Robin Big Snake.

The offensive show continued into the second period when Cooper scored his first on the powerplay off the rebound of a Brassard shot.  Karlis Zirnis then set up a pretty shorthanded goal by Justin Aikins, who deked a defender before beating Lemanowicz for his first goal since returning to the Mudbugs from the AHL.  Danny Lapointe tipped in a powerplay goal for the Killer Bees before Cooper’s second goal of the second period, which found the back of the net on a backhand shot from the slot.  That tally made it a 7-2 game after two periods.

Jason Weitzel picked up a rebound goal in the third period for Rio Grande Valley to complete the scoring in a 7-3 Bossier-Shreveport win.

John DeCaro picked up the win in goal, stopping 16 shots as the Mudbugs outshot the Killer Bees 31-19.  The Bugs were 1 for 4 on the powerplay and the Bees finished 1 for 5.

Bossier-Shreveport will now come home to play four of their final six regular season games at the CenturyTel Center .  After two days off, the Bugs will play three-in-three, hosting Texas on Friday, Mississippi Saturday, and visiting the RiverKings on Sunday.  Opening faceoff on Friday night is set for 7:05 pm at the CTC.  Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and group seats can be purchased through the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.