BOSSIER CITY, La. – Jeff Kyrzakos’ league-leading 11th post-season goal propelled the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs to a 5-4 overtime win over the visiting Colorado Eagles Thursday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Central Hockey League’s Ray Miron President’s Cup championship series is now tied at two games apiece with Game 5 set for tonight.
The Eagles got off to an aggressive start in the opening minutes of the game, out shooting the home team 7-1 and got on the scoreboard first with a head’s up play by Steve Haddon. Adam Hogg sent an odd-angle shot from the left goal line and the rebound came out to Haddon below the right circle. Haddon was able to beat John DeCaro, who appeared to lose sight of the puck at the 1:08 mark.
As the middle of the frame approached, the Mudbugs gained momentum and tied the game after Nathan Moon took possession of a loose puck in the high slot and shot it through traffic past Andrew Penner’s right pad. Just 15 seconds later off the ensuing faceoff, Travis Clayton sent the puck in front of the crease, where Shawn Limpright forced it in to put Bossier-Shreveport up 2-1 after 20 minutes.
The Eagles tallied three goals on its first four shots of the second period, putting the kahuna on John DeCaro, starting with Adam Hogg’s five-hole shot from the low circle that tied the game at two. Two minutes later while on the penalty kill, Scott May batted Adam Chorneyko’s pass into the net to hush the home crowd and put the Eagles on top, 3-2. Chorneyko added another assist on Kevin Ulanski’s goal three minutes after that to make it 4-2 Colorado.
DeCaro was declared done for the night and Ryan Munce entered the crease to defend the ‘Bugs net. Bossier-Shreveport managed to bring themselves back within one when Andy Contois broke down the left boards and centered a feed across to Simon Mangos, who re-directed it into the net at 15:18 for the final score of the period.
7:47 into the final frame, Michael Couch helped set up the game-tying goal, rushing into the offensive zone and wristing a shot that was blocked near the top of the circles. The puck then bounced onto the stick of Limpright, who lobbed it into the net to tie the game at four. Munce was perfect in the third period, stopping nine shots while three hit the posts and the game was sent into overtime.
Colorado successfully killed a Mudbugs power play early in the extra session but that would be their only success. Jamie Milam sent the puck deep into the Eagles’ zone to Nick Layton, who then sent a perfect pass into the low slot to Jeff Kyrzakos, who then one-timed it into the net, breaking John Vecchiarelli’s 12-year-old franchise record with his league-leading 11th goal of the playoffs. John DeCaro stopped 11 of 15 shots in the first 30 minutes of the contest, while Ryan Munce (2-2) finished with 13 straight saves for the win. Andrew Penner (8-3) took the loss after a 21-save effort as Colorado out shot Bossier-Shreveport 28-26. Both teams were even on special teams – the ‘Bugs were 0 for 6 on the powerplay and the Eagles were 0 for 4. With the best-of-seven series now even at two games apiece, the teams will prepare for tonight’s Game 5 at the CenturyTel Center. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 pm CST. The winner will hold a 3-2 series lead and have a chance to clinch the championship next Wednesday when the series returns to Colorado for Game 6. Contact the writer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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