Bullfrogs Beat Blades in Another Shootout

INGLEWOOD — On a record-setting day, the red-hot Bullfrogs announced a pair of major roster changes, then won their third consecutive Roller Hockey International shootout.

The 7-6 victory over the Blades at the Forum Thursday moved the Bullfrogs (12-9) into position to make a late run at the Western Conference title. The Blades (11-5-5), 0-5 in shootouts this season, lead the conference with 27 points, but the Bullfrogs moved into a tie for second place with San Jose (11-6-2), each with 24 points.

It was the fourth consecutive Bullfrog victory and fifth shootout victory without a loss. The announced crowd of 11,717 was the largest to watch a Blades home game. And Blade Doug Ast, a Canadian national team member, set an RHI record by scoring a goal in his 16th consecutive game. The slap shot came with 3 minutes 41 seconds remaining and tied the score, 6-6.

But the biggest buzz produced Thursday was the news that the Bullfrogs had acquired Canadian national team forward Glen Metropolit from New Jersey in exchange for Glenn Stewart, the Bullfrogs’ leading scorer the past two seasons.

They also announced that popular forward Rick Judson left the team to play ice hockey in Germany. Judson, who last played July 26 at St. Louis, was the team’s second-leading scorer.

Metropolit is considered a better defender than Stewart, but Stewart is expected to give resurgent New Jersey a scoring threat in the playoffs. After a slow start, New Jersey has won seven of its last 10 and climbed into second place in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind defending Murphy Cup champion Orlando.

The RHI trading deadline is midnight tonight and Bullfrog Coach Brad McCaughey said he might not be through dealing.

Metropolit is the third Canadian national team member signed by the Bullfrogs in the past week and fourth overall, giving McCaughey several lines familiar with playing together.

“Team chemistry is very good,” defenseman B.J. MacPherson said. “We had some guys, myself included, who weren’t doing the job they had in past years. Brad took note of that and made the changes he needed. You could tell the difference in practice.”

Metropolit, who joined the team Thursday, was whistled for holding with 1:56 left, but the Blades failed on the power play and the teams headed to the shootout.