BOSSIER CITY, LA ---  Darrell Stoddard scored his first goal of the postseason 12:49 into overtime to send the Memphis RiverKings to the Northern Conference Finals with a 3-2 game five win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Sunday in Bossier City, LA.  The RiverKings win the series 4-1 and now await the winner of the Colorado/Oklahoma City series.  The Eagles lead the Blazers 3-2 with game six set of OKC tomorrow night.

Both clubs controlled different portions of what finished as a scoreless first period.  The Mudbugs registered the first six shots on goal while the RiverKings had seven of the last nine, finishing the period with an 8-7 edge.  

In the second period, the RiverKings struck first as Steve Makway returned to play from the penalty box and took a clearing pass from Ryan Campbell.  Makway went in uncontested on Bossier goalie Ken Carroll and slipped a backhand shot under his pads for a 1-0 lead at 10:18.  The Mudbugs tied the score on Joe Ori’s shot from the slot via Daniel Pegoraro’s centering pass at 18:37. 

Again, teams exchanged goals in the third period.  Jason Sessa put the RiverKings ahead 2-1 with a shot from the side of the net that caromed in off of Carroll at 1:49.  The Mudbugs would even the score and eventually force overtime on Dan Wildfong’s rebound goal with 3:53 remaining.     

On Stoddard’s series ending goal, Travis Banga and Derek Campbell assisted.  In a game where the team scored three goals, eight different RiverKings notched a point.

Larry Sterling won his second straight game with a strong performance as he stopped 35 of 37 shots.  Ken Carroll took the loss with 27 saves.  

SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS

GM 1 - Friday, April 13               MEM 4 BOS 3
GM 2 - Sunday, April 15            MEM 4 BOS 1
GM 3 - Thursday, April 19         BOS 5  MEM 2                     
GM 4 -  Saturday, April 21         MEM 4  BOS 3     
GM 5 - Sunday, April 22             MEM 3 BOS 2 OT        (MEM wins series 4-1)