BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs are one game away from the CHL Ray Miron President’s Cup Final after a 6-4 victory over the Allen Americans on Friday night in front of 2,896 fans at the CenturyTel Center. 
The win, which came in the Mudbugs’ first true home game in the best-of-seven series, gives them a 3-1 lead in the Berry Conference Final. Jamie Milam led the Mudbugs, scoring three points (2 G, 1 A) along the way, as Bossier-Shreveport took advantage of a third period scoring flurry to move past the Americans. Milam got the Mudbugs on the scoreboard first, as he blasted a one-timer from the slot into the net past Americans goalie Chris Whitley 4:05 into the opening frame. Nick Layton and Justin Aikins picked up assists on the game-opening goal. Colton Yellow Horn evened things up for Allen late in the period, sending home a wrist-shot above John DeCaro at 17:12 to send the teams into the first intermission tied at 1-1. Bossier-Shreveport wasted little time re-gaining the lead after the second period began. Milam’s second goal came 1:48 into the period as he knocked in a one-timer from near the blue line and past Whitley’s right skate unassisted for a 2-1 lead. The Mudbugs increased their lead to two goals late in the period when veteran forward Travis Clayton added a tally at 17:26. Clayton won an offensive zone draw, passed the puck back to Michael Couch and then deflected Couch’s shot past Whitley to make the score 3-1 going into the final period. Bossier-Shreveport then stepped up the offensive pressure in the third period, increasing their lead to 6-1 in the opening four minutes of the final frame. David Rutherford struck first, as his pass, intended for Aikins bounced off an Allen defender and into the net just 1:53 into the period. The goal chased Whitley out of the game as he was replaced by Scott Campbell. Steven Crampton made it 5-1 just 1:21 later, cashing in from the low slot to close out a strong shift with linemates Brett Smith and Andy Contois. 40-seconds later, Jeff Kyrzakos added to the lop-sided affair on a power play goal from Clayton and Milam. With Allen’s Mike Berube serving a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, Kyrzakos backhanded a shot into the net past Campbell at 3:54, making the score 6-1. That goal apparently had Allen Head Coach Dwight Mullins rethinking his previous strategy, as he pulled Campbell and sent Whitley back into the crease to finish the game. The Americans added three goals of their own mid-way through the third, two of which came from Nino Musitelli on the power play. However, DeCaro and crew stood strong and weathered comeback attempt to claim the win. DeCaro saved 25 of 29 Allen shots as he improved to 8-2 in the playoffs. He currently leads the CHL in playoff wins. Whitley stopped 23 of 27 shots, but Campbell picked up the loss through just over two minutes of play and saving just one of three shots he faced. The Mudbugs look to close out the series on Sunday when they host the Americans for the second and final time this series in a 4:05 p.m. face-off. A win on Sunday would move the Mudbugs into the President’s Cup Final for the first time since 2007 when they were defeated four games to one by the Laredo Bucks. Contact the writer at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
