Laurie Comes Through in Clutch for Bullfrogs

Rob Laurie, as tired as he is, came through in a big way for the Bullfrogs once again Wednesday night.

The three-time all-star goaltender, who has not had a rest in two weeks, stopped three shots in the final minute to preserve a 5-4 Roller Hockey International victory over Oklahoma in front of an announced crowd of 11,176 at the Pond.

Darren Perkins came off the injury list and had two goals and two assists. Todd Wetzel had five assists. The Bullfrogs (15-3-2) raised their Pacific Division lead over the sagging Coyotes--who have won only once in the last seven games--to 11 points.

Laurie, who stopped 23 shots, had been cruising along without giving up a goal since midway through the second quarter when a shot by Oklahoma’s Ross Harris slipped through, cutting the Bullfrogs’ lead to a goal with four minutes left.

With less than a minute left, the Coyotes pulled their goaltender and went on the attack with an extra man. The Bullfrogs were content to sit back on defense and let Laurie be the gatekeeper. He blocked two shots with his pads, then flicked away another shot by Oklahoma forward George DuPont with his stick.

“After Oakland came back on us [to win 9-8 in a shootout two weeks ago] I just wanted to make sure this time that Oklahoma didn’t score,” said Laurie, who started his seventh consecutive game because of an injury to No. 2 goalie, Eric Raymond. Laurie is 10-2-2, as the Bullfrogs stopped the Coyotes on all five power-play tries.

After a rough-and-tumble 11-7 victory at San Diego Tuesday, the Bullfrogs and Coyotes bounced around even more. The Bullfrogs, who have won all three meetings this year, were assessed 30 minutes in penalties, including a game misconduct to Victor Gervais that negated Joe Cook’s goal barely five minutes into the game.

Oklahoma had 21 penalty minutes and the Bullfrogs converted on four of five power plays. Rick Judson had the winner, lifting the Bullfrogs to a 4-3 advantage in the third quarter. Glenn Stewart made it 5-3 a half-minute into the fourth.

Coach Grant Sonier, usually a skeptic, couldn’t contain his excitement over the results.

“This was a great win,” he said. “We had to play back-to-back nights, two physical games. We went two-men down when Rick Judson went out in the fourth quarter and I thought we still played well.”