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Monday, December 4, 2000

IceRays blow past MudBugs
Goalie Skazyk leads team to 3-2 victory
By Brian Vernellis
The Times
Minutes after Sunday's game against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, Bossier- Shreveport Mudbugs head coach Scott Muscutt began watching the game film, trying to dissect why his team came out with a sluggish performance. And, the scowl on his face got deeper and deeper.
   ``Sluggish would be a kind word for how we played (Sunday),'' Muscutt said. ``We didn't have any jump, we didn't win any of the battles in the corners until we put ourselves in the all too familiar position down a goal needing one to get out alive. We are not going to continue to do it that way.''
   Kurt Wickenheiser's power play goal late in the second period was the game- winning goal as the Ice Rays handed the Mudbugs their second straight defeat, 3-2, at the CenturyTel Center Sunday.
   ``We did not play with the fire we need to play with,'' Muscutt said. ``We did not come to compete which is very uncommon for this hockey team. It's something that we will be addressing next week.
   ``We won't play like that in (the CenturyTel Center) again.''
   For the second time in three games, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs held their opponent to under 21 shots. On Friday, the Mudbugs held the T-Rex to just 15 shots for a 2-0 win. On Sunday, they held the Ice Rays to 21 shots, yet came up with a loss.
   Two goals by the Mudbugs 82 seconds apart gave them a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. But, an unassisted goal by Cory Evans and Wickenheiser's goal rallied the Ice Rays to the victory.
   The Mudbugs had plenty of opportunities to tie and possibly take the lead in the final period, but C orpus Christi goaltender Eddy Skazyk played one of his best periods denying the Mudbugs repeatedly, including on a crucial power play late in the period.
   ``It's been a rough go for us this year,'' Corpus Christi head coach Taylor Hall said. ``A lot of games, we've been beating ourselves. Our team is really starting to buckle down defensively. Obviously they outshot us by a ton, but we played pretty solid defensively.
   ``Eddy stood on his head, he was just incredible. He played pretty well last game too. The last two nights, he's just been incredible.''
   The Mudbugs have been stressed with injuries to key players at this point in the season. Defenseman Jim Sprott, forward Forbes MacPherson and goaltender Chad Lang sat out Sunday with injuries.
   Lang and Sunday's starter Ken Carroll spent several minutes in the trainer's room following the game, receiving some much-needed physical therapy. Thankfully, the Mudbugs won't play again until Friday.
   ``For the guys that need their healing, they'll get it,'' Muscutt said. ``But we can't look to heal up and think that's going to solve the problems of this hockey team. There's going to be some soul-searching and some character-checking.''

   Corpus Christi 1 2 0 - 3
   BC-S'port 0 2 0 - 2
   First period-1, Corpus Christi, Shiryeav (Cheeseman) 13:22. Penalties-Corpus Christi, Bumstead (holding) 18:02
   Second period-2, (pp) Bossier-Shreveport, Rupnow (Burkitt, McKinlay) 5:12; 3, Bossier-Shreveport, Riou (Bergin) 6:34; 4, Corpus Christi, Evans (unassisted) 12:52; 5, (pp) Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (Sharuga) 19:09. Penalties-Bossier-Shreveport, Bergin (obs-hooking) 1:18; Corpus Christi, Bumstead (boarding) 3:26; Bossier-Shreveport, Davis (fighting) 14:51; Corpus Christi, Wingfield (fighting) 14:51; Bossier-Shreveport, Riou (tripping) 15:39; Bossier-Shreveport, Degurse (cross-checking) 18:15
   Third period-No scoring. Penalties-Corpus Christi, Sharuga (slashing) 1:35; Corpus Chri sti, Cheesman (cross-checking) 6:13; Bossier-Shreveport, Wildfong (unsportsman like conduct) 6:13; Corpus Christi, Shiryaev (slashing) 6:13; Bossier-Shreveport, McKinlay (slashing) 9:39; Corpus Christi, Sharuga (slashing) 15:28
   Shots on goal-Corpus Christi 21 (6-8-7); Bossier-Shreveport 44 (8-21-15)
   Power play opportunities-Corpus Christi 1-of-4; Bossier-Shreveport 1-of-5
   Goalies-Corpus Christi, Skazyk 4-4-0 (44 shots, 42 saves); Bossier-Shreveport, Carroll 8-4-0 (21 shots, 18 saves)
   Attendance-2,691

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