BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs knew that their CHL Berry Conference Final series against the Allen Americans would not be easy. The Americans were, after all, a solid team that captured the top seed in the Berry Conference by stringing together a league-best 47 wins in the regular season. 
Add to that the odd scheduling consequences of this series and it makes the Mudbugs’ story even more compelling. A scheduling conflict with the CenturyTel Center put the Mudbugs in danger of losing all but one home game in the series. Then, luckily city leaders, team officials and building management hammered out an agreement securing two home games for the Mudbugs – under normal circumstances they would have had three. But the team didn’t dwell on their bad luck with the schedule makers. Instead they stuck to what they do best – play hockey, and on Sunday night in their second and final home game of the series, the Mudbugs pulled off the unthinkable. After winning two of three games at Allen, the Mudbugs swept their two home games at the CenturyTel Center, bringing an end to the series and advancing to the CHL Ray Miron President’s Cup Final. An announced crowd of 2,904 witnessed captain David Rutherford score two goals and add one assist while goalie John DeCaro saved 23 of 26 Americans shots as Bossier-Shreveport posted a big 5-3 win on Sunday afternoon. DeCaro’s solid outing improved his playoff record to a CHL-best 9-2. Nick Layton and Michael Couch added two points each as the Mudbugs took control early and never looked back. Jim Jorgenson got things rolling for the ‘Bugs, netting a wrist shot through traffic and past Allen goaltender Chris Whitley at 5:33 of the opening period with assists going to Steven Crampton and Andy Contois. Rutherford put the Mudbugs up 2-0 with a power play goal at 18:37 when he beat Whitley with a snapshot from inside the blue line. Allen kept things close, as David Nimmo deflected a Dave Bonk shot into the net on the power play with just eight-seconds remaining. Bossier-Shreveport again increased their lead to two-goals at the 6:41 mark of the middle period. Rutherford entered the zone with Justin Aikins trailing, then the pair crossed before Rutherford drove down to the low circle and let loose a shot that went into the net off of Whitley’s glove. That goal marked the end of the game for Whitley, who was replaced for the second time in as many games by Scott Campbell. Jarret Lukin then made it 3-2 at 16:45 of the second when he sent a one-timer from Nino Musitelli into the net. The score remained the same for the majority of the final period until the two squads exchanged three goals in a matter of two minutes. Layton found the net at 17:47, taking a feed from Rutherford and beating Campbell low on the stick-side to make it 4-2. Less than a minute later, with Campbell pulled for an extra attacker, Tobias Whelan scored with 1:24 left to pull the Americans back within one. Travis Clayton sealed the deal just 1:11 later when with 13-seconds remaining he took a feed from Couch and sailed the puck into the empty net to make it 5-3. The 4-1 series win secures the Mudbugs a spot in the CHL Final against either the Colorado Eagles or Rapid City Rush. Colorado currently leads the best-of-seven Turner Conference Final series 3-2 with game six scheduled for Monday night in Colorado. Contact the writer at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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