Blaznek's OT Goal Spoils Tulsa Rally
 
BOSSIER CITY, LA – Joe Blaznek’s second goal of the game at 2:24 of overtime lifted the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs to a 5-4 victory over the Tulsa Oilers during the first night of “Pink in the Rink” weekend Friday at the CenturyTel Center. Tulsa rallied from a three-goal third period deficit to force overtime and get a point in the standings before Blaznek clinched Bossier-Shreveport’s 27th win of the year.
 
In addition to the two-goal effort from Blaznek, the ‘Bugs got a goal and an assist from Scott Kalinchuk and two assists each from Travis Clayton and David Rutherford. Ken Carroll also made 27 saves to win his second straight game and improve to 11-6-3 for the year.
 
Rutherford extended his CHL-leading point streak to 14 games less than seven minutes into this one, getting an assist as Tyrel Lucas ripped home the opening goal to put the Mudbugs on top. The lead became 2-0 later in the period when Scott Kalinchuk fired his fourth goal of the year over Marty Magers’ glove hand off another feed from Rutherford at 18:05.
 
Tulsa cut the lead to one early in the second period when Aaron Davis’ shot from the right circle snuck between Carroll’s leg and the goalpost to make it 2-1 at 1:28. After killing off a pair of Oilers powerplays, the ‘Bugs got the two-goal lead back late in the period as Shawn Limpright knocked in the rebound of a Jeff Kyrzakos shot to put the home team up 3-1 heading into the third period.
 
Blaznek notched his first goal early in the third, beating Magers from the right circle for a powerplay goal at 2:54 to extend the advantage to 4-1. Then the Oilers started their comeback, getting three consecutive goals from defensemen to tie the game up. Jim Henkemeyer started the rally with a goal at 8:55, which was followed just 35 seconds later by a powerplay tally from Tyler Butler. With less than five minutes left in regulation, Derek Eastman knotted the game at four with a blast from the point.
 
Halfway through the extra session, Clayton fed a pass to Joe Blaznek, who broke into the zone and blistered a slapshot under Magers’ left pad to sew up the Mudbugs victory.
 
Magers finished with 36 saves despite the overtime loss as the ‘Bugs outshot the Oilers 41-31. Both teams finished 1 for 5 on the powerplay.