Shreveport Mudbugs Advance In NAHL Playoffs
It took all five games of the series, but the Shreveport Mudbugs beat the El Paso Rhinos in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) South Division semifinals. The final in game 5 was 2-0 Shreveport.
The series started in Shreveport, with a 4-2 Mudbugs win at George's Pond inside historic Hirsch Coliseum. But the following night was one of the craziest games in recent Mudbugs' history, as El Paso tied the game up 2-2 with time running out in the 3rd period. Then they were able to beat the Bugs 3-2 in a marathon 4 overtime game.
The series shifted to El Paso for game 3, and the Mudbugs won 3-2. Saturday night brough on game 4, where the Mudbugs could close out the series. But the Rhinos ended up defending their home ice, and extending the season with a 3-1 win.
Which brought us to Monday night, where the Mudbugs spent most of the game storming the El Paso net and throwing very good attempts to the Rhinos goalie. Eventually the Bugs broke out to a 1-0 lead. They held onto it through power plays and penalty kills, until they were able to add a ripping half-clapper into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Late in the third period, it appeared the score was stretched to a 3-0 lead, but the officials waived the goal off. At the end of regulation, it didn't matter, as the Mudbugs refused to allow a goal, and wrapped up the series with the 2-0 win.
Now its onto the South Division Finals against bitter rivals, the Lone Star Brahmas.
Lone Star had the best record in the South this season, giving them the #1 seed. The Mudbugs hold the #2 seed in the division. That means Lone Star has earned home ice advantage in this series, so it will begin in the Dallas Metroplex. After a pair of games, it will shift to Shreveport for at least one game, maybe two. If the Brahmas or Bugs win the first three games, the series is over. But if it goes to 4 games, Shreveport will host the middle two, Game 3 and Game 4. If the series needs a Game 5 to decide who moves on, it will be a home game for Lone Star.