SHREVEPORT, LA – The Corpus Christi IceRays (35-18-5) were shutout for the fourth time this season by the Shreveport Mudbugs (35-18-5) by a final score of 3-0 Friday night at George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum.
The Mudbugs jumped out to an early lead after a turnover by the IceRays led to a breakaway for Duke Ehrhard who slipped a back hand past IceRays Goalie Benji Motew. Ehrhard’s 10th goal of the season came inside the opening two minutes of the period and the first shot of game for Shreveport. Following the opening goal, the IceRays tilted the ice in their favor creating multiple chances on Mudbugs Goalie Nikola Goich who was fantastic early. The IceRays sent nine shots his way including a couple of breakaways and a point blank chance that he turned aside to keep the IceRays off the board. Shreveport held on to a 1-0 lead heading to the first intermission.
Corpus Christi carried the momentum into the 2nd period but did not have an answer for Goich. The IceRays mustered up 16 shots in the middle frame and came up empty after 40 minutes. Just before the halfway point Bryce Boucher doubled the Mudbugs lead with a wrist shot against the grain past Motew to make it 2-0. The games first penalty came just before the five minute mark putting the IceRays on a five minute man-advantage that was erased a minute in after a penalty themselves sent the game to four on four. At even strength the Mudbugs capitalize on a rebound lifted into the net by Cole Hutchinson extending the Mudbugs lead to 3-0. The IceRays would go to a lengthy two man-advantage moments later and struggled to get anything going only ending up with two shots on the power play and trailing by three at the intermission.
A comeback was not in store tonight as the IceRays put six shots on net including a late breakaway from Michael Valdez trying to spoil the shutout bid for Goich who made another save and made 32 saves in his 5th shutout of the season. Shreveport picked up their 7th win in 11 meetings this season with the IceRays and a second shutout with a final score of 3-0. The Mudbugs are now tied with the IceRays in 2nd place of the South Division with 75 points sending us to a winner takes all game tomorrow night to decide who receives the first round bye to begin the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
