Killer Bees Sting Mudbugs

BOSSIER CITY, LA – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs made a valiant comeback attempt against Rio Grande Valley on Sunday afternoon at the CenturyTel Center, but the Killer Bees’ three-goal first period was too much for the Mudbugs to overcome in a 5-3 loss. Bossier-Shreveport outscored Rio Grande Valley 3-2 in the final two periods, but couldn’t get the equalizer and falls to 0-2-1 in its last three games.

Killer Bees/Mudbugs Box Score
 
Joe Blaznek had a goal and an assist and the ‘Bugs also got goals from Travis Clayton and Neil Clark in the defeat. The Killer Bees were paced by Brent Gauvreau and Evan Rankin, who each finished with two goals and three points. Ken Carroll made 16 saves on 18 shots after relieving Jon Horrell for the last two periods.
 
The Mudbugs came out strong in the opening minutes but couldn’t get on the board before Rio Grande Valley started to turn the tide. Gauvreau got his first goal as a Killer Bee at 11:15 to open the scoring and get things going for Rio. Late in the period Jesse Bennefield scored on a 2-on-1 and then Evan Rankin tallied unassisted just 29 seconds later to put the Bees on top 3-0 after one period.
 
The ‘Bugs came out roaring early in the second, seizing the momentum and starting their comeback on a goal from Travis Clayton. Joe Blaznek had the puck on the far side before threading a perfect pass across the crease to Clayton, who tapped in his 20th goal of the season to make it 3-1. A few minutes later, J.J. Martin hit Kevin Cooper, who sent a pass across to Blaznek on the back side. Blaznek beat a stretched-out Christian Boucher to trim the deficit to just one at 3-2. Two minutes after that though, Evan Rankin put in the rebound of a point shot right off a faceoff to extend the lead back to 4-2 for Rio Grande Valley. The second period ended with the Bees on top by two.
 
The Mudbugs got back within a goal again in the third period when Dave Pszenyczny drove in wide and sent a puck toward the net that was knocked in by Neil Clark at 5:06 to make it a 4-3 Killer Bee lead. Bossier-Shreveport kept pushing for the equalizer, but never could get the game evened up before Gauvreau’s second of the night with just over five minutes remaining sealed the 5-3 Rio Grande Valley victory.
 
Jon Horrell stopped 16 of 19 shots in the first period before coming out in favor of Carroll, who was tagged with the loss after playing the last 40 minutes of the contest. Christian Boucher made 25 saves to improve to 3-1 against the ‘Bugs this season. Rio Grande Valley outshot Bossier-Shreveport by a 37-28 margin in the contest. The Mudbugs were 0 for 3 on the powerplay while the Killer Bees finished 0 for 6.