Mudbugs Tame Mavericks
 
INDEPENDENCE, MO – David Rutherford scored twice and John DeCaro made a season-most 42 saves as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs topped the Missouri Mavericks 3-1 Thursday night at the Independence Events Center. The win was the Mudbugs' 25th of the season and improves their record to 25-16-4.
 
Bossier-Shreveport scored two goals just 34 seconds apart late in the second period to take the lead for good in the contest. Rutherford scored the game’s last two tallies and Simon Mangos had another multi-point effort with a goal and an assist as the ‘Bugs scored three unanswered goals to finish the game. DeCaro made 23 saves in the third period alone to help preserve the lead and get his 16th win of the year.
 
The Mudbugs faced down three Missouri powerplays in the first period, killing off two of them before going down 1-0 when Jordan Foreman put home a second rebound opportunity at 10:06 after John DeCaro had made two straight saves. The ‘Bugs were awarded a penalty shot late in the period when Festa threw his stick to try and make a save, but Festa stopped Simon Mangos to keep the Mavericks on top 1-0 after the first.
 
Brett Smith appeared to have tied the game in the second period when he gloved a puck out of the air and dropped it to the ice before scoring, but the goal was waved off when the officials ruled the puck went in off Smith’s glove. Simon Mangos then did manage to tie it up on the powerplay, sending backhand rebound over a prone Festa at 17:47. Rutherford tipped Mangos’ long shot 34 seconds later to give the ‘Bugs a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
 
The Mavericks outshot the Mudbugs 23-5 in the third period, but DeCaro and his teammates held tough to keep the lead. Rutherford then provided the insurance during a 2-on-1 after a great feed from Tyrel Lucas to make it 3-1 at 12:19.
 
Gerry Festa stopped 20 shots in the losing effort as Missouri outshot Bossier-Shreveport 43-23. The ‘Bugs finished 1 for 4 on the powerplay, while the Mavs were 1 for 7.
 
The Mudbugs will now travel to south Texas to finish off a three-game road trip Saturday night in Corpus Christi. Opening faceoff between the Mudbugs and IceRays is set for 7:45 pm, with pregame coverage starting at 7:25 pm on AM 1130 KWKH. The game will also be shown live on CHL TV.