LOVELAND, Colo. – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs displayed the depth of their talented roster with five different players scoring goals during Saturday night’s 5-3 win over the Colorado Eagles in Game 2 of the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals. 
The ‘Bugs much-needed win tied the best-of-seven series at one game apiece as the teams travel to Bossier City for the next three games, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday night at the CenturyTel Center.
John DeCaro was solid in net with 33 saves on the night as he earned his 10th victory, leading all goaltenders in the post-season Although the ‘Bugs were out shot 36-19, the effectiveness of their lines was evidenced by the final score. Speaking of effectiveness, Mudbugs Captain Brett Smith showed his leadership skills by setting the tone for the evening when he tallied the fastest goal the Eagles have ever allowed in post-season history, at the 30 second mark. Smitty skated into the Colorado zone and sent a slapshot from the left circle over the shoulder of Kyle Jones to make it a 1-0 contest. Undeterred, the Eagles struck back exactly three minutes later when rookie Adam Cherneyko tallied the first of two goals on the evening, beating DeCaro on a rebound to make it 1-1. Later in the period, the Eagles’ special teams were able to hold the ‘Bugs to a single shot during a 1:26 5-on-3 advantage after defensemen Kip Workman and Jason Beatty were sent to the sin bin for the only two penalties of the opening frame. Colorado led the shot count at 14-6 after the first 20 minutes. The Mudbugs re-took the lead 10:38 into the middle frame as Simon Mangos received a cross-ice pass from Steven Crampton and then sent a wrister low and just inside the far post for the 2-1 score. 3:20 later, Eagles Captain Riley Nelson tied it up again, sending a backhander past DeCaro for his league-leading 10th post-season strike. With 3:23 remaining in the period, Justin Aikins and David Rutherford charged through the neutral zone on a 2-on-1 break. Aikins faked a pass back to Rutherford and then slapped the puck past Jones to put the ‘Bugs back on top at 3-2. Once again, the Eagles led the shot count, this time 9-6 but were down by a goal after 40 minutes.
Shawn Limpright and Travis Clayton teamed up to find Jeff Kyrzakos, who sent a shot through traffic and past Jones from the top of the left circle to tie the Mudbugs’ single-season playoff record with his tenth goal of the post-season at the 6:09 mark. A little over six minutes later, Brett Smith sent a cross-ice pass to Andy Contois, who then centered the puck to Steven Crampton for a tap-in and a 5-2 lead for the visitors.
Despite a 13-7 shot advantage and two power play opportunities, Colorado managed just one goal in the final frame, Chorneyko’s second of the night at 14:05 mark. John DeCaro (10-3) earned the win with 33 stops, his second-highest save total of the post-season. Kyle Jones (4-4) settled back at .500 after making 14 saves on 19 shots faced.
The series now shifts to the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, La. for the next three games, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday night. Game 4 will then be on Thursday, with Game 5 following on Friday. Contact the writer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com
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