Bullfrogs Again Must Try to Win

The Bullfrogs missed a chance to end the season a day early, losing to the Orlando Jackals, 9-6, in the second game of the Murphy Cup for the championship of Roller Hockey International.

A Bullfrog victory would have meant the title but instead that will be decided at 4 p.m. today at the Orlando Arena in the final of the best-of-three series.

The final game is also the last chance for the Bullfrogs (27-6-2) to focus on the task of winning a championship instead of complaining about the decision by the league’s owners to rescind their home-rink advantage despite having the best overall record this season.

The Bullfrogs had won at home Friday, 9-8.

Anaheim played a solid first half but the defense struggled early in the third quarter, and the team fell too far behind.

The score was tied, 3-3, at halftime but Orlando (22-11-2) scored the first three goals of the third quarter.

Kurt Mallet broke the halftime tie with a goal only 51 seconds into the second half in front of a crowd of 8,863.

The next two goals were painfully familiar for the Bullfrogs.

Each was scored by Kevin Kerr with assists from Daniel Shank. The pair are former Bullfrogs. Kerr’s second goal came at the midway point of the quarter. Shank finished with a goal and five assists.

Goaltender Bill Horn, another former Bullfrog, helped with the victory by making 33 saves. His best quarter was the fourth, when he stopped 11 of 12 shots.

Rob Laurie had 29 saves for the Bullfrogs, who scored on one of two power-play chances. Orlando scored on two of four power-play opportunities.

The Bullfrogs rallied on goals by Glenn Stewart and Todd Wetzel. Wetzel’s goal came with six seconds left in the third quarter and cut Orlando’s lead to 6-5.

But that was as close as the Bullfrogs could get.

Hugo Prouix put Orlando up, 7-5, with a goal 1:35 into the final quarter.

He scored again about three minutes later to put Orlando ahead, 9-5.

Savo Mitrovic scored twice for Anaheim, which is seeking its second championship in four seasons. This is Orlando’s first season in the league.