The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are a victory away from making their fifth ever appearance in the championship finals, following a 2-1 home ice victory Saturday over the Colorado Eagles in Game 5 of the Northern Conference Finals. Game 5 was a close defensive battle highlighted by suffocating play in both defensive zones that saw the Mudbugs win their fifth consecutive post-season contest at the CenturyTel Center while putting the defending champion Eagles in the unenviable position of needing to win three straight games to keep their championship hopes alive.
Colorados quest will start Monday, again at the CenturyTel Center, in Game 5 in hopes of forcing a return to the Budweiser Events Center for a Game 6 on Wednesday.
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Colorado 1 @ Bossier-Shreveport 2
Bossier-Shreveport Leads Series 3-1
Following a scoreless opening frame, Bossier-Shreveport got the first goal of the game for the third of four times in the series, cashing in on Ryan Manitowichs third goal of the post-season. Manitowich picked up a rebound of a Chad Spurr shot and scored past Eagles goaltender Paulo Colaiacovo. Later in the period Mudbugs goaltender David Cacciola made perhaps his biggest save of the game, stoning Garretts redirect attempt off of an Erik Adams attempt to keep Bossier-Shreveport in the lead. Shortly thereafter, the Mudbugs increased the lead to 2-0, with quality hustle by Spurr and Manitowich setting up Chris Brassards third of the playoffs with a quick wrist shot
Ryan Tobler would spoil Cacciolas attempt for a second playoff shutout with 4:12 left in the third, with the former NHLs completing a 1 on 3 rush by slicing through three Mudbugs defenders and ripping a quick shot by the rookie netminder. Thats as close as the Eagles would come in Game 4, with their offensive stars continuing to be held in check by a concerted Bossier-Shreveport defensive effort. The Eagles are now forced to hope for three straight wins to keep their hopes of repeating as Ray Miron Presidents Cup Champions, while Bossier-Shreveport is focused on winning Game 5 on Monday to avoid a return trip to Colorado.