SHREVEPORT, LA – The Corpus Christi IceRays (23-7-3) surrendered a season high nine goals in a 9-4 loss at the hands of the Shreveport Mudbugs (20-14-1) on Friday night at George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. The IceRays were able to muster up a 2-for-3 effort on the power play in the game, but Shreveport’s offense was to much too handle on this night.
Shreveport controlled most of the play in the 1st period and tested Goalie Waylon Esche early and often looking to open the scoring in the sixth meeting this season. The Mudbugs would be rewarded with the first power play opportunity of the night on a tripping penalty by Will Reardon. The IceRays penalty kill that ranks 6th in the NAHL coming into tonight was able to survive the man advantage and looked to flip the momentum. However, the Mudbugs remained relentless and continue to extend shifts in the offensive zone with key face off wins. One of those wins would lead to a goal by Mason Wright on a funky bounce behind the net of Esche that found Wright at the side of the crease and was able to deposit it into the net for a 1-0 Mudbugs lead.
After surviving a barrage of chances late in the 1st period, Corpus Christi would strike back just a minute into the middle frame off a shot from Forward Troy Pelton who sifted a shot through the five-hole of Mudbugs Goalie Aden Gariepy tying the game at one. It was the eighth goal of the season fro Pelton assisted by Pierson Sobush. The Mudbugs would then tilt the ice back in their favor and as we passed the halfway mark in the game a turnover by the IceRays behind their net ended up on the stick of Gleb Akimov in the slot who fired it past Esche to make it a 2-1 Mubugs advantage. Corpus Christi would get a chance for the equalizer a few moments later on their first power play of the night and it only took five seconds for Sobush to beat Gariepy off a net drive and make it a 2-2 hockey game. That would not be the last of the period unfortunately as the Mudbugs would go to their third man advantage of the night and this time they were able to cash in thanks to Ian Emery with his sixth of the season to give Shreveport a 3-2 lead heading into the 3rd period.
The Mudbugs would build on their lead in the opening four minutes of the 3rd period scoring three consecutive goals to open up a 6-2 lead and leaving the IceRays stunned. Sobush would bounce one past Gariepy to make it a three goal game, but the damage had already been done. The Mudbugs would add two more power play goals after multiple penalties by Corpus Christi following Sobush’s goal and added a shorthanded goal. Cooper Conway would score a power play goal late for the IceRays, but it was a convincing 9-4 win for the Mudbugs over the IceRays. The IceRays and Mudbugs will face-off tomorrow night at George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum with puck drop at 7:11 PM.