ODESSA, TX — The Jackalopes (12-17-0-1) failed to pick up a weekend sweep against the Shreveport Mudbugs (15-12-1-4) as they ran into a hot goaltender and fell to the bugs 3-1 at the Ector County Coliseum.
Shreveport got off to a 2-0 lead in the first period that put the Jackalopes in a hole.
In the second period Odessa had multiple scoring chances, include three point-blank opportunities but Shreveport goaltender Maiszon Balboa stuffed every one.
Odessa finally broke through in the third period when a shot by Jared Christy produced a rebound to defenseman Patrick Dawson as he pinched in along the left side.
Dawson, a few feet off the half-boards, quickly shot the rebound into the net in one fluid motion. Dawson’s second of the season timed the Shreveport lead to 2-1 and gave the Jacks a fighting chance to come back with a little over seven minutes remaining in regulation.
However, less then 30 seconds later, Jay Feiwell forced a turnover behind the Odessa net and took the puck up to the slot area. With time and space Feiwell shot the puck in past Jacks netminder Kade Phipps to once again put the Jackalopes in a two-goal deficit.
Despite pulling the goaltender in the final minutes the Jackalopes could not pull closer and lost just their seventh game on home ice.
Balboa made 44 stops on the night for the Mudbugs to preserve the win. The Jackalopes will have a few days off for Christmas before welcoming the Lone Star Brahmas to the Ector County Coliseum for a Friday-Saturday series on December 28 and 29.
