BOSSIER CITY, LA. – The Rapid City Rush held off a comeback effort from the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Wednesday night at the CenturyTel Center to skate away with a 3-2 overtime win in game three of the CHL Northern Conference Semi-final. 
Amateur Corey Laurysen’s first professional goal at the 15:35 mark of overtime silenced the crowd of 2,538 and gave the Rush a 2-1 series lead. Laurysen collected the puck and sailed a shot from the point that deflected off a body and past Mudbugs goalie Parker Van Buskirk and into the net. The unassisted goal gave the Rush their third overtime win of the postseason. The defenses dominated the first period, with neither team able to find the net. Bossier-Shreveport held a slight shot advantage at the first break, 13-11. Van Buskirk robbed Derek LeBlanc late in the period with a glove save worthy of a highlight reel. Rapid City struck first, as has been the norm in the series, scoring at the 6:30 mark of the second period. Jon Pelle dished the puck to Luke Fritshaw who then fired a wrist shot that found the top-left corner. Bossier-Shreveport wasted little time responding to the Rapid City goal, scoring just 1:28 later. Shawn Limpright passed to Jeff Kyrzakos who snuck in a shot from close range to tie the game at the 7:48 mark. Travis Clayton earned the second assist on Kyrzakos’ power play goal and the two teams headed to the locker rooms deadlocked at one goal apiece. Nearly half of the third period went by without any scoring, until LeBlanc tickled the twine at the 9:20 mark. Van Buskirk’s glove was no match this time for LeBlanc who took a feed from Les Reaney and snapped home a wrist shot from the high point over Van Buskirk’s glove. Brendon Hodge was given the second assist on the score. The pressure then was on for the Mudbugs as the clock ticked deeper into the third period. The ‘Bugs hard-charging effort finally paid off with just under seven minutes remaining when Chris St. Croix scored on the power play. St. Croix slapped a shot along the ice through traffic and between the legs of Danny Battochio. The momentum shifted to Bossier-Shreveport after the tying goal, as the Mudbugs mounted several offensive chances, only to be turned away by Battochio. Time would run out on the third period and both teams prepared for their second overtime in three games. Both teams traded scoring chances throughout the extra frame, while Van Buskirk and Battochio continued their solid efforts between the pipes. On the night the two combined to stop 76 shots in 75 minutes. Bossier-Shreveport had a good chance to get the winner in overtime when LeBlanc was called for holding at the 12:09 mark, resulting in a Mudbug power play. Battochio closed the door however and Laurysen would nail the game winner for the Rush just 1:26 after LeBlanc was released from the penalty box. Bossier-Shreveport will try to get the equalizer in the series on Friday night at the CenturyTel Center in a pivotal game four. Contact the author at john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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