SHREVEPORT, LA – The Corpus Christi IceRays (35-19-5) end their regular season in a 4-1 loss to the Shreveport Mudbugs (36-18-5) at George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum on Saturday night. With the win the Mudbugs took eight out of the 12 meetings against the IceRays this season. Corpus Christi will take on the Colorodo Grit at the American Bank Center to begin the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
It was a busy 1st period for IceRays Goalie Vladislav Bryzgalov who faced 13 shots in the opening frame as the Mudbugs outshot the IceRays 13-5. But it was the IceRays that held a lead after the opening 20 minutes. After a highlight reel save by Bryzgalov at one end the IceRays attacked the other way via a shot from Pier-Olivier Allard deflected by Colin Watson that bounced off the body of Conway and into the back of the net to put the IceRays on top 1-0. Conway became the third IceRay to hit 20 goals this season. The IceRays had the lone power play in the frame but were unable to convert sending us to the first intermission.
After a scuffle in front of the Mudbugs net Shreveport loaded up their first power play of the night looking for the equalizer. Just as the IceRays looked to be unscathed Lucas Deeb made an incredible play by shooting the puck from behind the goal line off of Bryzgalov and past the goal line with six seconds left on the penalty to tie the game at 1-1. The IceRays outshot the Mudbugs 12-11 in the period and came up empty on their second power play of the night and sending us to the final period of regulation deadlocked.
The Mudbugs carried a power play into the 3rd period and Charlie Fink blasted a one-timer past Bryzgalov to give the Mudbugs their first lead of the night at 2-1. Shreveport would get another chance on the man-advantage and this time Cole Hutchinson put the puck in a wide open net to extend the Mudbugs lead to 3-1. Hutchinson would follow up with his second of the nigh at even strength to put the game out of reach with the Mudbugs fourth goal of the night. The Mudbugs went 3-for-4 on the power play and with a three goal final period sweep the IceRays and receive a first round bye into the division semi-finals.
