Mudbugs Rock the Rage in Battle of Division Leaders
The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (40-10-4) won the battle of the two top teams in the Northern Conference on Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over the Rocky Mountain Rage (33-15-5) at the CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs become the first CHL team to win 40 games this season and it pushes their lead over Laredo back to nine points for the Governors’ Cup (regular season champs).
Mudbugs-Rage Box Score
The Rage struck first in the game with Brent Cullaton scoring with just 26 seconds remaining in the first period. The goal for Cullaton extended his point streak to seven games and moved the veteran into a tie with New Mexico’s Konrad Reeder for third in the league in scoring with 81 points.
That would be the only offense the Rage could muster against John DeCaro. The all-star goaltender made 24 saves winning his 23rd game of the season (one more than Rocky Mountain’s Scott Reid who took the loss while making 31 saves).
Joe Ori scored the first of two goals in the game during the second period tying things up after 40 minutes but the Bugs exploded for three goals in the final period with Chris Brassard and Matt York scoring power play goals accompanying Ori’s empty-netter.
Bossier-Shreveport finished the game 3 for 6 with the power play while killing all six Rocky Mountain chances. The Bugs have 10 games remaining in the regular season and are the only CHL team with a chance to win 50 games.
Both teams are idle on Friday night.