ODESSA, TX — Coming into Friday night the Shreveport Mudbugs (10-2-1-1) had never lost back-to-back games. That stat remained relevant after the Odessa Jackalopes (7-7-2-0) fell 5-3 to Shreveport at the Ector County Coliseum.
The Jackalopes fell behind early in the first period off of back-to-back goals by the Bugs in the first seven minutes of the period. The Jackalopes answered back with Adam Kolcon’s first goal of the year as the defenseman ripped a hard wrist-shot from the left-point in past Shreveport netminder Cole Hudson.
Down 2-1 going into the second period, the Jackalopes had a power play early in the middle frame that provided an opportunity to tie the game. However, the Mudbugs capitalized off of several miscues and ended up scoring a short-handed goal on a two-one-one rush up the ice. Just as Odessa scored a short-handed tally to but the Mudbugs behind the eight-ball in the third period on Thursday, so to did the Mudbugs put the Jacks behind the eight-ball early in the second. Shreveport added one more just a few minutes later to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
But the Jackalopes refused to go down and fought back. Less than a minute after surrendering the foruth goal, Jacks forward Ben Doherty picked off a pass in the neutral zone. Quickly skating up ice, he fed a pass forward to line mate Joey Musa who led the pair into the offensive zone on a two-one-one rush. Musa picked the perfect time to pass as he fed one over back to Doherty who rifled a one-timer into the back of the net. Doherty’s goal brought the Jackalopes back within 2 and light a fire under the home team.
Unfortunately, Shreveport was able to counter with an awkward power-play goal in the latter half of the second that deflected off a body in front before bouncing off the ice and over the glove of Jackalopes goalie Connor Hasley. Odessa answered back again however in the waning seconds of the second period after Hunter Carrick’s shot from the left half-boards found it’s way in the back of the net.
Despite some good chances in the third, the Jackalopes could not find a way to eat into the two goal Mudbug lead and fell to Shreveport 5-3, despite out-shooting the Bugs 39-36. Odessa’s penalty kill finished with four successful kill on five outings while the Jackalopes power play was held off the scoreboard for the first time in four games. The Jacks will have a chance to win the series on Saturday night at 7:15 pm as they close out the three-game series with the Mudbugs while celebrating SlapJack’s birthday.
Photo Credit: Danne´ Braden Photography
