Bullfrogs Stay Alive in Sudden Death

ANAHEIM —  Although the Bullfrogs squandered numerous opportunities to put the Blades away quickly in the Western Conference semifinals of the Roller Hockey International playoffs, they still managed to eliminate the Blades for the fifth consecutive season.

Anaheim’s Hugo Belanger scored on a power play 1 minute 2 seconds into sudden death for the only goal of the mini-game, sending an announced crowd of 8,488 at the Pond into a frenzy.

The Blades defeated the Bullfrogs, 5-2, in Game 2 of the series to force the mini-game, but Belanger’s goal from the top of the slot off assists from Victor Gervais and Sean Whyte sent the Bullfrogs into the next round.

The Bullfrogs advanced to the Western Conference finals and will host the San Jose Rhinos in Game 1 of that series Friday at the Pond.

Belanger’s goal was the only one of the night for the Bullfrogs on the power play. Anaheim did not score on six manpower advantages in Game 2 after converting on four of six power plays in Game 1. The Bullfrogs led the RHI in power-play efficiency during the regular season, scoring on 52.5% of their chances.

Belanger got his power-play shot only after Gervais was slashed by Los Angeles’ Ian McIntyre as the 12-minute mini-game’s regulation time expired.

Anaheim kept the offensive pressure up and outshot Los Angeles, 14-6, in the mini-game. But Los Angeles goalie Jeff Ferguson, who stopped 36 of 38 shots in Game 2, stopped the first 13 shots he faced in the mini-game.

The Bullfrogs started the minigame strong and outshot the Blades, 6-0, in the first three minutes. But Ferguson made several acrobatic saves in the minigame to preserve the scoreless tie.

With 1:11 remaining, he stopped Gervais on a backhander from the top of the slot and he stopped Belanger’s deflection from in front of the net just 21 seconds later.

Ferguson also made a sprawling save on a breakaway chance for Anaheim’s Glen Metropolit with 5:31 remaining.

Anaheim’s David Goverde also played solidly, stopping all six shots he faced in the mini-game. Although he was fairly sharp in Game 2, the Blades took advantage of the chances they had.

The Blades’ Kevin St. Jacques and Doug Ast returned for Game 2 and the mini-game after missing the series opener with injuries.

The pair spearheaded a fourth-quarter surge for the Blades, with St. Jacques tallying two goals and Ast adding an assist in the quarter to help extend the Blades’ season.

St. Jacques gave the Blades a 3-2 lead 3:15 into the fourth quarter of Game 2, scoring off a rebound from a shot by Ast. Five minutes later, St. Jacques scored again, this time on a breakaway after teammate Ross Harris forced the puck loose with a big check at center court.

Harris finished off the scoring with an empty-net goal with 28 seconds remaining and Ferguson and the defense made the lead stand up.

Ferguson only allowed a goal to Anaheim’s Darren Perkins 10 seconds into the game and another goal in the second quarter to Glen Metropolit.

Scott Drevitch scored twice in the first three quarters for the Blades to keep the score even, 2-2.