Blades Pull Away From Bullfrogs

The Bullfrogs had a chance to climb back into first place in Roller Hockey International’s Western Division, but their defense let them down.

The Bullfrogs gave up their most goals of the season, including three in the final period, in a 12-8 loss to the Los Angeles Blades in front of an announced crowd of 3,688 at the Forum Thursday night, and it was the Blades who took over the top spot.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Bullfrogs (7-5) and the second game in a row they’ve given up nine or more goals. The Blades are 7-3-2 and a point ahead of idle San Jose in the standings.

The Bullfrogs were without Coach Brad McCaughey. He left the team Tuesday to be with his father, who underwent triple bypass surgery Thursday at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. A team spokesman said the surgery was successful, and that McCaughey is expected to be back with the team for the rematch against the Blades Saturday at the Pond.

Assistant coach Darren Perkins was in charge of the team in McCaughey’s absence.

“We just got outworked at the end of the game,” Perkins said. “Our team defense isn’t what it needs to be right now. We just have to regroup.”

The Blades scored two quick goals early in the fourth period, one of them on a penalty shot by Shayne Arsenault. Arsenault was knocked down on a breakaway, and his goal gave the Blades a 10-7 lead.

“I don’t think that was a penalty shot in anybody’s league,” Perkins said. “It looked to me like two players going down the rink together. But you can’t blame anything on one goal in a game like that.”

The Blades also dominated the first period with 12 shots on goal and led, 4-2. They took an early 4-1 cushion on goals by Kevin St. Jacques, Eric Rice, Ross Harris and Arsenault before the Bullfrogs managed to cut the deficit on Jim Bermingham’s scoring shot with 50 seconds left in the period.

The Bullfrogs came back to outshoot the Blades, 14-7, in the second period but still trailed, 7-5, at the end of the quarter. Quick goals by Harris and Scott Drevitch padded the Blades’ lead, but the Bullfrogs’ Victor Gervais scored five minutes into the period, and Anaheim added another on its first power-play opportunity of the game after Ian McIntyre’s holding penalty.

The Bullfrogs scored quickly with the man advantage on Rick Judson’s slap shot.

Drevitch’s second goal, on a power play, made it 8-5, and the Blades’ lead was four on Rice’s second goal minutes later. But just when it looked as though the Blades were about to wrap it up, Gervais scored the final two goals of the period to keep the Bullfrogs close. It was the first three-goal game of the season for Gervais.

Bullfrog notes

The Bullfrogs play at San Jose Arena tonight against the Rhinos. Anaheim lost to the Rhinos, 9-5, at the Pond July 4, stopping the Bullfrogs’ home winning streak at 14 games. The Bullfrogs won the first two games between the teams, including their first road victory of the season June 28.