BOSSIER CITY, La. – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs roared back to tie the Central Hockey League’s Northern Conference Final on Friday night, thrashing the Rapid City Rush 6-1 to avenge an overtime loss in Game Three. A CenturyTel Center crowd of 3,108 watched the most lopsided playoff game to date in the CHL this post-season as the Mudbugs scored on 3 of 8 power play chances. 
The majority of the opening period was an even affair until Bossier-Shreveport scored on a four-on-four chance at 15:07. Shawn Limpright moved inside the blue line and released a shot that went between a defender’s legs and past Rush goalie Miguel Beaudry. Jamie Milam scored his first of two power play goals late in the period to increase the lead to 2-0. With Cody Bostock and Les Reaney in the penalty box, Milam fired a slap shot home inside the right post with 16 seconds remaining in the man-advantage. The ‘Bugs went into the intermission with a two-goal lead while holding a 14-8 shot advantage. David Rutherford extended the lead to 3-0 just two minutes into the middle frame, beating Beaudry top shelf from in tight. The Bossier-Shreveport onslaught continued just over two minutes later when Milam scored his second power play goal on a pass from Limpright. Milam one-timed the shot through Beaudry’s five-hole, giving the Mudbugs a comfortable four-goal lead. Brett Smith added his name to the score sheet later in the period, knocking in a rebound after a Joe Blaznek shot to expand the lead to 5-0. Joe Ori was credited with the secondary assist on Smith’s power play goal that came at 14:10 of the period. Tempers flared late in the period, as Bossier-Shreveport’s Jeff Kyrzakos and Rapid City’s Riley Weselowski were sent off at 19:04 for fighting majors. Things remained chippy in the final stanza, as eleven roughing minors were handed out by referee Jon McIsaac. The two teams combined for sixty-one penalty minutes and three ejections in the third period. The rough stuff closed out the third, after Travis Clayton scored :20 into the period. Clayton took a Limpright pass and released a shot from the circle that bounced in off the post. Bossier-Shreveport’s James DeLory was given the gate after drawing a major and game misconduct for slashing at 13:07. Reaney received a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct at the same time. Less than one minute later, Weselowski scored to break up Parker Van Buskirk’s shutout bid. The squads continued exchanging pleasantries later on into the game and at 18:09 four players from each team got to hit she showers early. Three players from each side were given minors for roughing, while Rapid City’s Colt King and Bossier-Shreveport’s David Pszenyczny were tossed on ten-minute misconducts. Van Buskirk was solid in his second playoff win for the Mudbugs, stopping 30 of 31 shots earning him the number one star of the game. Game Five looks to be another good one in this rough and tough battle of the Northern Conference’s best teams. Face-off is set for 7 P.M. Saturday at the CenturyTel Center before the series shifts back to Rapid City for Game Six on Tuesday, April 20.
Contact the author at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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