Friday: Shreveport Mudbugs 4 @ El Paso Rhinos 1 – The El Paso Rhinos play host to the Shreveport Mudbugs for the start of a 2-game series. We start the night with stiff competition on both ends as neither team was able to break through the other’s defense. It wouldn’t be until the 15 minute mark that the Mudbugs broke the silence as Nick LeVasseur took the first point of the night. We head into the second period with the mudbugs at a 1-0 lead over the Rhinos. Alan Evitmov managed to sneak in one goal deep into the period to temporarily tie the game before Jack Mack of the Mudbugs regained the lead. Unfortunately for the Rhinos, this would be their last goal of the night. After one final break the teams returned to the ice where Logan Gotinsky further increased the Mudbug’s lead followed five minutes later by Brent Litchard to end the game with a 4-1 Mudbugs victory.
Saturday: Shreveport Mudbugs 4 @ El Paso Rhinos 2 – Game #2 is upon us as the El Paso Rhinos continue to play host to the Mudbugs here at Rhino Country. Mudbugs took swiftly to the ice with a goal in the opening minutes of the game with as Eric Vitale breaks through Rhino defense. This early goal put the Rhinos on hard defense for the rest of the period as they fought to hold back the Mudbugs’ onslaught. Drake Morse would whittle down defenses just enough to sneak in one last goal before the period is out to put the Mudbugs at a 2-0 lead at the end of the first. Mark LaFrance returned with newfound vigor to start turning the tables scoring just as fast as we begin the period, followed by Alan Evtimov to tie the game at 2-2. Both teams would continue to battle it out for the remainder of the period until Garrett Steele of the Mudbugs tipped the balance in their favor with one goal before the period is done. The Rhinos trail behind the Mudbugs 3-2 at the start of the third, and this lead would only increase as Eric Vitale scored his second goal of the night. The Mudbugs would ultimately claim a 4-2 victory over the Rhinos as the game came to a close.
