NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – One of the most anticipated games this season pins the first place Brahmas against a Shreveport Mudbugs squad that has been hot since Lone Star shut them out on New Year’s Eve.
Lone Star’s win streak is up to seven straight and the ‘Bugs are right behind with six straight after sweeping the Topeka RoadRunners in the three-game series this weekend. One of those streaks will end on Monday.
However, the real story to Monday afternoon’s game is that it is our animal adoption day presented by Operation Kindness, one of the largest no-kill animal shelters in Texas.
Operation Kindness will bring dozens of cats and dogs to the NYTEX Sports Centre lobby for fans to adopt!
Getting back to the ice, Monday represents the seventh game of the month for Shreveport. The ‘Bugs out-scored the RoadRunners 13-4 over the weekend, with Kieran Durgan potting six points over the three-game stretch.
John Roberts has looked strong for them in net, stopping 72 of 75 in his last two starts.
It will be a different battle Monday as Shreveport will have their head coach, Karlis Zirnis, back on the bench. He missed the game against Lone Star on New Year’s Eve as he was still behind the bench for Latvia at the World Juniors. The Brahmas are 3-2-0 against the Mudbugs this season, with one of their wins coming in a shootout.
After a solid weekend against the Odessa Jackalopes, the Brahmas are bound to be feeling good. Goaltending in particular was a strength, with Alec Calvaruso and Max Prawdzik splitting the series and each winning their respective game.
Calvaruso was sharp on Friday night, making 24 saves for his third shutout of the season. Prawdzik was impressive as well, stopping 32 of 34 shots and allowing only one even strength goal on the night.
One weekend after the team’s first line carried the team’s offense, all goals in the series against the Jackalopes came from the second and third lines. That sort of contribution throughout the lineup will be something the Brahmas will want to keep going down the stretch.
Justin Addamo, who missed Saturday night’s game with a one-game suspension for checking from behind, will be eligible to return Monday afternoon. With Erik Gordon still with the U17 USNTDP squad, Calvaruso or Prawdzik will get the start in net.
Puck drop is set for 2:00 p.m., but the dogs and cats will be at NYTEX starting at 11:30 a.m. Swing on by the Sports Centre, adopt a new friend and grab some lunch at ZuRoma’s before checking out the Brahmas.