RAPID CITY, S.D. – Bossier-Shreveport goalie Parker Van Buskirk was perfect Tuesday night as he picked up his first professional shutout in a 2-0 win over Rapid City in Game Six of the CHL Northern Conference Final. Van Buskirk stopped all 27 Rapid City shots while his teammates gave him all the goal support he needed within a five-minute span in the second period. 
The two squads took a scoreless tie into the first intermission, after the ‘Bugs out-shot the Rush 10-7. Rapid City had two power play opportunities in the opening period, but could not manage to get the puck past Van Buskirk. Both teams put 11 shots on goal in the second period, but Bossier-Shreveport would be the only one to see the shots converted to goals. Both goals scored in the period came at even strength, and on odd-man rushes. Tyrel Lucas and Brett Smith scored the game’s only goals in the middle frame. Lucas passed the puck to Adam Basford who then passed back to Lucas for a tap-in goal at 5:07. Smith found the net at the 9:54 mark when he beat Rush goalie Danny Battochio high to the glove side. David Rutherford and Joe Ori were credited with the assists on the give-and-go play. Rapid City’s defense locked down in the final period, holding Bossier-Shreveport to just three shots on goal. The Rush managed nine shots on goal, but they still could not solve Van Buskirk and the stingy Mudbugs defense. Van Buskirk’s shutout was the first in the playoffs for the Mudbugs since 2006 when David Cacciola did the same in the conference semi-finals. It also marked the tenth shutout in Mudbugs playoff history. The power play woes continued for the Rush, as they failed to convert on six chances. It was the fifth time out of six in the series that Rapid City failed to score on the power play. Bossier-Shreveport is 9 for 30 on the power play in the series while Rapid City is just 1 for 27. The win by the Mudbugs ties the series at 3-3 and sets up a deciding game seven on Wednesday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Arena. Opening face-off is set for 6:35 P.M. MST. The winner of the game will move on to face either the Allen Americans or the Odessa Jackalopes in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Final. Allen will face Odessa in Game Seven of the CHL Southern Conference Final Wednesday night. Contact the author at: john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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