Mudbugs dominate Eagles 7-2 in Game 5

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Behind the excellent goal tending of backup Ryan Muncie and David Rutherford’s desire for redemption for his previous suspension, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs won a decisive Game 5 in the best of seven series and are now just one win away from lifting the Ray Miron President’s Cup.
This game started out ugly and only got uglier as the Colorado Eagles were called for the first four penalties of the game.
Rutherford scored on each of the first two power plays. At 6:32, he drew a questionable high sticking call against Steve Haddon, and scored the first goal of the game at 7:23.
Scott May was called for holding the stick at 9:38 and Rutherford scored his second power play goal at 11:32 to put the ‘Bugs up 2-0 after the first period.
Despite having to kill four penalties in the first frame, the Eagles managed to out shoot the Mudbugs 13-12. Bossier-Shreveport was called for one minor penalty late in the period.

Period two saw a continued collapse from the Eagles with Bossier-Shreveport scoring three times and chasing Eagles goalie Kyle Jones from the net after the fourth Mudbugs goal.
Amateur Nick Layton scored with assists from Rutherford and Justin Aikins at 5:20 and Jim Jorgenson’s goal at 11:37 ended Jones’ night, but the scoring for the period was not done yet. Layton’s second score, an unassisted tally, beat Andrew Penner at 12:26 – less than one minute after he took over in net.
Bossier-Shreveport had the better of the shots in the middle period, out shooting the Eagles 14-6, with penalties even at three apiece.
To begin the final frame, with the score 5-0 Mudbugs, the Eagles tried to get something going as Dan Sullivan scored at 4:18 to cut the Colorado deficit to four goals, but Rutherford scored again with help from Jamie Milam at 7:04 to re-instate the five goal lead.
Justin Akins added a seventh goal to the Mudbugs’ total at 16:14 which led to some pushing and shoving and pseudo fighting a minute later as the Eagles’ Brett Thurston and Mudbugs’ Nathan Moon mixed it up.
A few seconds later, Colorado native and Eagles rookie A.J. Hau, scored his first playoff goal to complete the scoring at 7-2 in favor of the Mudbugs.
The third period saw the Eagles once again out shoot the Mudbugs 15-10 with Colorado taking four penalties to the Mudbugs’ two.
The win gives the Mudbugs a three games to two lead in the best of seven series with Game 6 to be played at the Budweiser Events Center May 25th at 7:05 MST.
Contact the writer/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com