Mudbugs Complete Comeback, Top RiverKings
 
BOSSIER CITY, LA – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs fought back from three goals down to earn a 5-4 victory over the Mississippi RiverKings Friday night at the CenturyTel Center. Trailing 4-1 midway through the second period, the ‘Bugs scored four unanswered goals, including three on the powerplay, to top Mississippi for the fourth time this year and improve to 11-10-0 this season.

Note: Scott Muscutt becomes just the third CHL coach to coach in 600 games joining Doug Sauter and Bill McDonald.
 
Joe Blaznek, Jeff Kyrzakos and Tyrel Lucas each had a goal and an assist, while Travis Clayton and Shawn Limpright chipped in two helpers apiece. After allowing four goals in the first half of the contest, John DeCaro shut the door down the stretch, finishing the night with 35 saves in his seventh win.
 
Mississippi came out firing in the game, scoring twice in the first four minutes to take an early 2-0 advantage. Bobby Chaumont scored on a rebound just 42 seconds into the game and then former Mudbug Kevin Cooper beat John DeCaro for a shorthanded goal to make it 2-0 RiverKings at 3:32. The ‘Bugs fought back with a nicely executed 2-on-1 break as Tyler Liebel set up a wide open Jeff Kyrzakos for his fourth goal of the season, which cut the Mississippi lead in half. Late in the period, the RiverKings’ Ryan Held pounced on another rebound in front and knocked it past DeCaro to put the visitors on top 3-1 after one period.
 
The RiverKings added to the lead midway through the second period on the powerplay when Ryan Campbell knocked home another rebound goal to make it 4-1. The Mudbugs started their comeback late in the second period with a powerplay goal from Joe Blaznek, who took a back-door feed from Travis Clayton and one-timed it past Kevin Beech to cut the lead to 4-2. Then late in the period, Joe Ori and Blaznek created an odd-man situation low in the Mississippi zone, leaving Tyrel Lucas alone in the slot to beat Beech and get the ‘Bugs back within a one at 4-3 entering the third period.
 
Bossier-Shreveport’s penalty killers went to work early in the third period, killing off :50 seconds of 5-on-3 powerplay time for Mississippi and the ensuing 5-on-4 advantage that followed to stay within a goal. The ‘Bugs then tied the game on a powerplay of their own when Lucas fed Justin Aikins in the circle, who ripped a shot off the post and in to make it 4-4 at 9:13 of the period. Another powerplay chance led to the winning goal as Jeff Kyrzakos sent a pass from the half boards back to a streaking Brett Smith, who had just come off the bench. Smith caught the pass just inside the blue line and sent a long wrist shot over a sliding defender and into the top corner of Beech’s net to put the Mudbugs on top to stay. With Mississippi on a late powerplay, John DeCaro made a number of tough saves to preserve the 5-4 victory.
 
John DeCaro is now 7-6-0 on the year after the 35 save effort. Kevin Beech stopped 23 shots in defeat for the RiverKings, who outshot Bossier-Shreveport 39-28. The Mudbugs finished 3 for 5 on the powerplay, while the ‘Kings went 1 for 5.
 
The teams will now hit the road for the second game of their home-and-home series tomorrow night in Southaven, Mississippi. Opening puck drop is set for 7:05 pm for the sixth meeting of the year between the Mudbugs and RiverKings. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:45 pm on News Radio 710 AM KEEL and the game can also be seen live online on CHL TV.