Yesterday the Jacks hosted the Mudbugs for the first time this season. Shreveport is currently on their longest losing streak in franchise history (0-4-0-2). They are also having their worst start to a season. The Mudbugs entered the Ector County Coliseum in last place in the South (5-9-1-3). Odessa was in third place last night and was coming off a bye week (12-7-0-1).
The first penalty of the game was against Ryan Kusler for cross-checking. The Jacks were down a man, but Chris Duclair (10) made the most of it by scoring a short-handed goal. His goal came just before the halfway point of the first period. It was also only the fourth registered shot by Odessa. The score would remain 1-0 Odessa when the horn sounded ending the opening period. Shreveport outshot Odessa, 7-6 after the first. The Mudbugs are winless when trailing after the first period (0-6-0-3).
Shreveport would tie the game :43 seconds into the middle period after Jake Mack (2) beat Alex Proctor. The Mudbugs put up their most shots in the game during the second period with 15. As for the Jacks, they managed their most in the game with eight. Both teams would head into the locker room after two periods tied, 1-1. When tied after two periods, Odessa is 3-1-0-1.
Within the first five minutes of the final period, Odessa was back in the lead. After Mike Manzo passed the puck to Trevor Taulien (4) while short-handed on a 2-on-1 breakaway. It marked the third short-handed goal for Taulien this season. It also gave the Jacks their sixth short-handed goal on the season which puts them in a tie with New Mexico for the second-most in the NAHL. A few minutes after the Jacks made it 2-1, Jake Mack (3) would convert on a Mudbugs power play. With under seven minutes left to go in regulation Chris Duclair (11) grabbed possession of the puck and turned on the jets. Beating Devon Bobak as he cut from right to left across his crease. The score would remain 3-2 Odessa until Liam O’hare (4) converted on an empty-net goal. The 4-2 victory gave the Jacks their 13th win which is their most in the last two seasons. It also put the Mudbugs on a seven-game losing streak (0-5-0-2).
Alex Proctor made 28 saves for his 11th win this season (11-3-0-1). Shreveport went 1/7 on the man-advantage and Odessa went 0/3. Head Coach Scott Deur had this to say about the Jacks performance last night, “It is great to get two points under the belt. Fortunate really to score two short-handed goals. You don’t expect to score a short-handed goal let alone two in one game.” The Jacks are now 3-0 against the Mudbugs this season and look to keep it perfect again tonight. There will also be a post-game skate following the conclusion of the game tonight.
