On Saturday the Jacks faced the Shreveport Mudbugs for game two of their weekend series. Game one went in favor of the Mudbugs by a score of 6-3. It put them on a four-game win streak and for the Jacks, it was their fourth loss in a row (0-3-0-1). The Jacks have not lost five games in a row all season. As for Shreveport, they were looking to win their fifth game in a row for the second time in 2022.
The opening period saw a lot of action on both ends of the ice. The Jacks put up nine shots on Devon Bobak and were able to get one past him. J.R. Perdion (14) scored the first goal of the game at the 16:17 mark of the first period. It was the first time the Jacks had the lead all weekend. Shreveport managed to get six shots on Alex Proctor, but he was able to stop them all. The Jacks ended the first period with a 1-0 lead and were outshooting Shreveport.
The middle period is when Shreveport finally got their legs moving. As they put up four goals in the second period for the second-straight night. All four goals were scored within the first ten minutes of the period. Their first goal was scored by Timofei Khokhlachev (11) at the 2:45 mark into the period. Austin Brimmer (13) gave Shreveport their first lead of the game 31 seconds later. With almost 7:30 gone in the second period, Burke Simpson (11) scored a power-play goal to put the Mudbugs up 3-1. The Mudbugs got their fourth goal of the night from the stick of Logan Heroux (3). The second period ended with the Mudbugs in full control, 4-1. They were now outshooting the Jacks, 19-17.
In the final period, the Jacks were giving it all they had by putting up ten shots on Bobak. Unfortunately, they were unable to get any past him. Even with Proctor pulled for the final minutes of regulation. Shreveport also did not score on any of their four shots. Resulting in a 4-1 Mudbugs win and a sweep over the Jacks. Odessa finished with 27 shots and Shreveport had 23. The Jacks went 0/4 on the power play and the Mudbugs went 1/3. It was the first time this season that the Jacks did not pick up a point.
Odessa is now 4-2 against Shreveport this season. However, since the Mudbugs won both games in regulation, they now tie Odessa for the final playoff spot (53pts). The Jacks have now been swept four times this season and are on their longest losing streak of the year (0-4-0-1). They return home this weekend to start their final homestand of the season (8 games). Their first matchup will be against sixth-place Amarillo (49pts).
Photo credit: Danne Braden
