Odessa Jackalopes (1-4-0-1, 3pts) vs. Shreveport Mudbugs (2-4-1-1, 6pts)
at George’s Pond Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, LA
Time: Friday 7:11 p.m. CDT | Saturday 7:11 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: (Away) HockeyTV | Listen Live Here
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 19-33-3-3
Season Series: 0-0
Leading Scorers:
ODA: 4pts, Mansfield (3G, 1A)
SHV: 5pts, Mack (4G, 1A)
Bye Week:
The Jacks are coming off their first bye week of the season. They are tied with Amarillo for the fewest games played in the South. With Odessa not in action last weekend they have dropped to last place in the South. The Mudbugs picked up three out of a possible four points last weekend against the Oklahoma City Warriors. Moving them into sole possession of sixth place. If the Jacks can sweep Shreveport, they would pull within three points of El Paso. The Rhinos and Jacks face-off the following weekend to mark the first home games of the season for Odessa.
Goal Differential:
Odessa ended last season with 193 goals for (franchise record) and 193 goals against. Their current goal differential is -13 after scoring 12 goals and allowing 25 through six games. The Mudbugs have scored 15 goals and have allowed 22 for a goal differential of -7. To put it in perspective, all South Division playoff teams from last season had a positive goal differential. The most goals either team has scored in a game this season is four. Both teams were shutout by the North Iowa Bulls during the NAHL Showcase.
Skid:
The Jacks have not won since their first game of the season (2-1 vs. New Jersey). Resulting in a five-game losing streak (0-4-0-1). Three of those losses ended with a final score of 5-2. The longest losing streak for Odessa last season was six games. The Jacks went 4-4 against the Mudbugs last year. Odessa’s only shutout of the 2021-2022 season came against Shreveport on Oct. 1st by a score of 5-0.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jackalopes (F: #11 – Ryan Mansfield)
The 19-year-old is currently in his second season in the NAHL. The Burlington, ON native played 56 games in his rookie year and produced 32 points (12G, 20A). Putting him fourth on the team in scoring. The 5’11”/195lb. left-handed forward scored in both games last weekend against New Mexico. He is currently on a three-game point streak (2G, 1A) which ties a career high from last season. Mansfield recorded three goals and one assist in seven games against Shreveport last season. Prior to joining the NAHL, Mansfield spent the 2019-2020 season playing for the Toronto Patriots (OJHL). That season he put up 32 points (10G, 22A) through 50 games.
Mudbugs (F: #29 – Jake Mack)
The native of New Hudson, MI is in his final season in the NAHL. His rookie season was in 2020-2021 and he registered five points (3G, 2A) in 16 games. Last season, Mack finished eighth in scoring for the Mudbugs after putting up 21 points (11G, 10A) in 46 games. The 20-year-old has four goals on eight shots this season giving him a shooting percentage of 50%. Which puts him in the top-10 in the NAHL. The 6’2”/185lb. right-handed forward played in five games against the Jacks last season and totaled six points (3G, 3A). Before reaching the NAHL, Mack played for Belle Tire 18U AAA where he put up 50 points (21G, 29A) in 57 games.
