Layton’s late goal gives Mudbugs 3-2 win

ALLEN, Texas – No one said it would be easy. Winning on the road never is, but after facing three-straight road games to open the Berry Conference final, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs can now enjoy their only two home games of the series with a 2-1 series lead after picking up a pair of big road wins – including a 3-2 victory over the Allen Americans Wednesday night at the Allen Event Center. Nick Layton’s goal late in the third period put the ‘Bugs over the top, securing the win and the series lead. David Rutherford added a goal and assist as Mudbugs goalie John DeCaro stopped 27 of 29 Allen shots to improve to 7-2 in the post-season. It was a defensive battle in the early stages of the game, as both teams managed just six shots on goal in the opening period. The Mudbugs would strike first though, as Rutherford scored top shelf on a backhand wraparound at the 12:40 mark for a 1-0 lead. Bossier-Shreveport’s penalty kill unit survived a pair of early tests, successfully killing two power play chances for Allen in the opening seven minutes. The Mudbugs later failed to score on two power play chances of their own in the first period as they skated to the locker room with a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.

The defensive efforts continued on both sides in the middle period with neither squad scoring – despite several scoring chances. Allen was 0-for-1 on the man advantage in the period, while nearly scoring several times. Several shots rang off the post behind DeCaro during the power play. DeCaro and crew escaped the onslaught, holding onto the one goal advantage heading into the third period. Defensive play gave way to goals in the final frame after Allen’s Kip Brennan was assessed a five-minute major for boarding just 1:23 into the period. It was the Americans, however, that would get the first goal of the period. While shorthanded, Allen’s Tobias Whelan wheeled past two defenders and sent home a wrist shot past DeCaro at 4:09 to tie the game at 1-1. The Mudbugs re-gained the lead just 1:27 later, cashing in their only power play goal of the night. Jamie Milam flicked a wrist shot past Allen goalie Chris Whitley for a 2-1 lead at the 5:36 mark while Brennan served the remainder of his penalty. Shawn Limpright and Jeff Kyrzakos were given the assists on Milam’s marker. The Americans struck back late in the period to tie it 2-2 when Jonathon Zion fired a one-timer low past DeCaro at 17:44. True to the script of the third period, Layton scored the game-winner 1:05 later. Rutherford stole the puck at center ice and sent a cross-ice pass to Layton who then knocked the puck into the net past Whitley with 1:11 remaining. Game four is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Friday at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City. Contact the author at: john.hall@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at: chip.crail@prohockeynews.com