Las Vegas Gambles, Bullfrogs Get Reward

It took an uncharacteristic amount of time to get there, but the Bullfrogs got back on familiar ground in the Roller Hockey International standings Sunday night.

The three-time defending world champions used a short-handed goal from Kevin St. Jacques, and 30 saves from goaltender Rob Laurie to help post a convincing 4-1 victory over Las Vegas at the Arrowhead Pond in front of an announced crowd of 4,136.

The team’s sixth consecutive victory helped the Bullfrogs (10-1-2) leap over Las Vegas (10-3-1) into first place in RHI’s Western Division. It was the second consecutive victory by the Bullfrogs over the Coyotes, who had occupied first place since opening day in early June. Las Vegas has won only once in its last four games.

“We told the guys when they came in here this season that we expect to win,” Bullfrog Coach Brad McCaughey said. “We have a lot of guys who want to win and they go into every game now expecting to win.”

Hugo Belanger picked up two goals, but it was St. Jacques’ goal with 1 minute 39 seconds left in the third period that staked the Bullfrogs to a 3-1 lead that did the most damage. Coyote Coach Chris McSorley pulled goaltender Konstantin Simchuck in favor of an extra skater on a power play. The Coyotes got off a series of shots and when the puck sailed off the dasher board and around behind the net, defenseman Darren Perkins got a stick on it and slapped it to St. Jacques all the way out to the red line. St. Jacques rolled a few feet and fired a shot across the Coyote zone and into the empty net.

“About all you can do in that situation is play the puck to the middle,” Perkins said. “I saw Kevin jump off the boards and I knew we wouldn’t have a lot of room from there but I managed to get the puck to him along the boards. I think McSorley does that play too often and that’s what happens when it doesn’t work.”

McSorley, who coached the Bullfrogs to their first title in 1993, left the arena without speaking to the media, but not before holding a closed-door meeting with players. A spokesman said the coach was “not too happy.”