Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Blank Mississippi RiverKings 3-0 - CHL

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com -

BOSSIER CITY, LA - John DeCaro's tenth shutout of the season extended his CHL record and Bossier-Shreveport got three points each from Chris Brassard and Brett Smith as the Mudbugs defeated Mississippi 3-0 on Saturday night at CenturyTel Center.  Smith's first period goal was the game-winner, but it wasn't sealed until a pair of 2-on-1 breaks gave the 'Bugs some cushion in their sixth straight victory. Veteran forward Jason Campbell also played in his 400th career game against Mississippi and Karlis Zirnis notched a goal in his first game back in the lineup since New Year's Eve.  Over 100 penalty minutes were issued in a nasty affair that saw 17 total powerplays and three fights. It didn’t take long for the division rivals to renew acquaintances, with plenty of penalties and chippy play in the first period.  Quade Lightbody fought Rick Kozak in a first period that saw Bossier-Shreveport have five powerplays and Mississippi four.  The Mudbugs went on top when Brett Smith tipped in Lightbody’s shot from the point with less than four minutes remaining in the first period. The game stayed 1-0 throughout the second period, despite more powerplay chances both ways.  DeCaro made a few great saves through traffic in the middle period and stopped ten total shots after making 14 saves in the first to hold the RiverKings off the scoreboard. Tempers calmed for a while in the third period of a one-goal game that stayed that way until midway through the period.  Some great work in the defensive zone created a 2-on-1 break for the Mudbugs.  Smith waited until defenseman Derek Landmesser and goaltender Ian Keserich committed to his side before sliding a back-door pass to Brassard, who netted his 24th of the season to put the ‘Bugs up 2-0.  Less than a minute later, it was 3-0 after another 2-on-1 goal.  This time it was Brassard setting up the pass across for Zirnis, who roofed a wrist shot on Keserich’s stick side for his sixth goal of the year in his first game back after missing the last 23 games with an injury.  More fights broke out as the penalties picked up again with the Mudbugs up by three late in the game; Neil Poulsen fought Sheldon Wenzel for the third time this year and Kevin Labatte fought Brian Mulally before it was over.  DeCaro finished up the shutout for the tenth time this year, finishing the game with 31 saves and his league-leading 22nd win of the year. Neither team ever scored on the powerplay, despite nine chances for the RiverKings and eight for the Mudbugs.  Mississippi finished with a 31-27 shot advantage as Bossier-Shreveport took a 5-4 advantage in their 12-game season series with the ‘Kings.

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