Odessa 5, Mudbugs 4 (SO): Five things we learned

Odessa survived two overtime power plays by the Shreveport Mudbugs and escaped George's Pond at Hirsch Coliseum with a 5-4 shootout victory Saturday,

Two of three Jackalopes scored in the shootout while the Mudbugs failed on their first two attempts.

Saturday marked the Mudbugs' first home loss since Lone Star won the 2017-18 regular-season home finale (March 31), and head coach Jason Campbell was not happy.

"We're soft," he said. "We give up too many easy goals. I'm not happy at all. We were just awful in our D-zone. We work so hard to get goals and give them up way too easy."

Odessa's Rex Moe took a roughing penalty with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give Shreveport a golden opportunity in overtime.

Alex Camarre made a spectacular glove save on Jack Jaunich early in overtime to prevent a Mudbugs win and a hat trick for Jaunich.

Seven seconds before Moe's penalty was complete, Odessa was sent to the box again.

Jaunich was again stuffed by Camarre during the second power play of the extra session. In the closing seconds of overtime, Camarre stoned Warren Natyshak.

The Mudbugs (9-8-3) have completed the first third of the 2018-19 season.

"Giving up 50 shots a game -- enough is enough," Campbell said. "The boys got to get it together. It's everybody. As a team, coaches included. I'm not throwing all those guys under the bus -- I'm right there along with them. I can't go out and play the game anymore. I wish I could. These guys will get it. I have confidence in them, but, man they have to figure it out.

"It's going to be a rough (practice) Monday."

Another roller-coaster ride

Things started just fine as Jaunich scored 2:48 into the game, but three Jackalopes rattled off three straight goals.

Just when it looked like the first period would be a disaster for the Mudbugs, Grant Bondy lit a fire under his team and sparked the crowd at The George with two solid right hands and a takedown during a fight with Connor Smith late in period.

Thirty-nine seconds after the fisticuffs, newcomer Tim Khokhlachev collected a 5-on-3 power-play goal to pull Shreveport within a goal. Jaunich took advantage of carryover power-play time to tie the game at 3 just 11 ticks into the second period.

The Mudbugs responded to a third-period goal from Odessa when Anton Rubtsov tied the game at 4 less than a minute after the Jackalopes took the advantage.

Shreveport killed an Odessa power play late in regulation to help send the game to overtime.

Defenseman traded

Bradley Jenion was traded to Maryland for "assets" late Saturday. Jenion, a native of England, had four assists in 16 games for the Mudbugs this season.

"He's an incredible kid. He plays hard. Another team was looking for a little size on the back end," Campbell said. "We've had an abundance of players and it was a move we had to make. I wish him the best. He deserves it. He works hard on and off the ice. It's going to be a great opportunity for him."

Plenty of ice time for newcomers

Khokhlachev and fellow forward Ryan Waltman saw their first action for Shreveport on Saturday. Khokhlachev, skating without his name on his No. 22 jersey, immediately paid dividends on the Mudbugs’ struggling power play.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Khokhlachev, who also assisted on Rubtsov’s tying goal early in the third period, was most recently with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.

Chuard pulled, Richie Parent sees rare action

After goaltender Leo Chuard allowed three first-period goals, Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell decided to send Richie Parent out to start the second period.

It was Parent’s second game of the season and first since September 21, when he allowed three goals in a loss to Kenai River at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.

"Leo got hurt. He wasn't 100 percent, so it was a great opportunity for Richie to step in there. For a guy who's just been practicing, he stepped in there. Hats off to him, he kept us in there."

Parent stopped 32 of 33 Odessa shots prior to the shootout.

Up next: Thanksgiving roadie

There is little downtime for the Mudbugs during the holiday week. Wednesday, Shreveport plays rival Lone Star in North Richland Hills, Texas, before heading to Topeka for a weekend set against the Pilots.

The Mudbugs are back on George’s Pond when they host Amarillo on Nov. 30-Dec. 1.