Oakland Defeats the Bullfrogs

The Bullfrogs got too greedy again Wednesday night and this time it cost them dearly in their Roller Hockey International game with Oakland.

The Bullfrogs, attacking without regard to defense in the second half, blew a four-goal, fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Skates in a shootout, 9-8, in front of an announced crowd of 11,491 at the Pond.

Justin Duberman and Kim Maier got the winners in overtime for Oakland, which participated in its fifth consecutive shootout. Skates goaltender Mark Cavallin, who was allowed to play despite getting a game misconduct penalty in his last game for fighting, was perfect in the shootout, stopping shots by Todd Wetzel, Glenn Stewart, Rick Judson and Victor Gervais.

In two previous meetings between the teams, the Bullfrogs won by shootout and a goal.

This one would never have gone as far as it did if the Bullfrogs hadn’t abandoned their style of play after leading, 6-2, at halftime.

“We got away from what we were doing in the first half,” forward Rick Judson said. “We didn’t play defense. We stopped taking the body. I guess you could say this was a total, complete breakdown.”

That has been the case for the Bullfrogs in many games this season, only more often than not, they hung on to win. But Wednesday, after Oakland (8-5-2) cut the deficit to two goals on a goal by Chris Robertson with about nine minutes in regulation, Oakland Coach Shaun Clouston sensed a change in momentum.

“Anaheim got nervous,” he said. “They had played fairly smart up until then and they tried to force some shots. They pressed for a goal.”

Oakland countered. Roman Hubalek faked out Laurie and skated into the crease and put the puck in the net, then Maier tied the score with a minute left, the third shot by Oakland fired in rapid succession at the Bullfrog goaltender.

The only bright spot for the Bullfrogs was that they gained a point in the Pacific Division standings for going into overtime.

That gives the Bullfrogs a six-point lead over Oklahoma. Both clubs play Friday against Northwest Division opponents.

The Bullfrogs (12-2-2), who play four games in the next six days, will be at San Jose (9-8-1); Oklahoma (9-6-2) hosts Vancouver (11-2-1).

Laurie, making his fifth start in six games, faced only 34 shots in regulation. But he couldn’t stop Duberman, who opened the shootout with a pretty, backhanded wrist shot and Maier, who ended the contest with a backhander of his own.