Bullfrogs Continue Mastery of Las Vegas

If it was just speculation before, the Bullfrogs proved Thursday night that they do have the Las Vegas Coyotes’ number.

The Bullfrogs defeated the Coyotes, 7-5, at the Arrowhead Pond, moving four points ahead of Las Vegas in the race for first place in the Western Conference. It was the Bullfrogs’ fourth victory of the year over Las Vegas, one coming in an overtime shootout. Las Vegas is 15-2-1 against the rest of the league.

“I think our offense is just too much for them,” Bullfrog Coach Brad McCaughey said. “We’re deep offensively and we play good defensively too. Obviously our team is confident against their team.”

Three Anaheim players--Sean Whyte, Hugo Belanger and Kevin St. Jacques--scored twice, and Bob Rapoza accounted for the other goal.

Anaheim (17-3-2) went into the half ahead, 4-2, but Jay Neal scored for Las Vegas 43 seconds into the third period. St. Jacques scored a power-play goal on a wrist shot 2:01 later to restore Anaheim’s lead to two goals. Las Vegas scored again in the third, setting the stage for St. Jacques to put the game away in the fourth. St. Jacques scored 47 seconds into the fourth period, then drew a critical penalty that put the Bullfrogs on the power play with 2:59 left to play. On the power play, St. Jacques found Belanger between the face-off circles for a one-timer that was Anaheim’s final goal.

Belanger is the league’s leading scorer with 68 points (29 goals, 39 assists).

Anaheim can clinch the Western Conference title and a bye in the semifinal round of the RHI playoffs with a victory Saturday at Las Vegas.