Blown Call in OT leads to 5-4 Chiefs win

The way the game was officiated, its almost fitting how it ended. But what a horrible horrible way to end a great game as the referee missed a hand pass directy in front of him that seconds later turned in the winning goal on a power play in overtime.

The home team won though, so who cares right?

The Dogs came out of the gate ready to play, out shooting the Chiefs 11-4 but they were unable to find the net. Langley went up 1-0 on a Trevor Gerling goal three minutes into the second and 2-0 less than two minutes later as Kevin Tuohy banked one in from a bad angle on the power play. The Dogs battled back with a power play goal of their own as Justin Morello converted a Dylan Nowakowski pass from behind the net to make it 2-1. The Dogs turned it on for the next several minutes but it would be the Chiefs scoring against the flow of play with a Kody Dhaliwal tip in of a Tim Daly shot from the high slot to lead 3-1 after two. The Dogs got on the board just over five minutes into the third to make it 3-2 as Dylan Nowakowski took a Casey Bailey pass down the right wing and snapped one home. Less than a minute later it was 4-2 Chiefs as a bad turnover back of the Dogs net ended up in it as Josh Hansen got his own rebound off a wrap around and banked one home.

No surprise, the Dogs didn't quit. Casey Bailey scored three minutes later on a give and go with Nowakowski on the powerplay to make it 4-3, and three minutes later it was 4-4 on the as Kenney Morrison kept the puck in at the line for Casey Bailey who found Connor Varley walking in off the point where he snapped one high short side.

The Dogs had a great chance to go ahead with just over a minute to go when Brandon Adams raced in on a breakaway but couldn't fight off a stick from behind by Tyler Miller, forcing the shot out of the building. Compared to the relatively weak call in overtime, the Dogs might have wanted a call on this play.

Both teams had great chances on scrambles in OT, and both teams had shots hit the post. The Chiefs would take a 1-0 series lead on a beautiful goal by Trevor Gerling to win it - too bad the play should have never happened as I mentioned off the top as a hand pass set up the play.

Its one thing when you lose a game and 2 points because of a bad call or bad no call. Its another thing entirely when you lose a Playoff game. Officiating for the most part has been sub-standard at best this season, unfortunately they aren't going to get better overnight just because the Playoffs are here.

Bulldogs Coach and GM Paul Esdale wasn't impressed with the officiating on the postgame show, which is quite understandable. While the penalty in question in OT and the non-call on the hand pass on the winning goal were brought up, Esdale was more unhappy with how the game was called as a whole, as he believed his team was the more disciplined team, not getting into it after whistles or behind the play while the Chiefs were doing exactly that.

The Langley Event Centre crew had the referee "mic'd up" during the game, giving the night a "big league" feel. However it felt small all over again when the referee called a penalty against the Chiefs and once play was stopped he didn't know who the penalty was against. He was caught with his mic on saying to his linesman "who was the guy" and ended up announcing #20 white - while #14 Austin Plevy was sent from the bench for the penalty. Hopefully the mic'd up experiment won't end as a result.

The Dogs went 3 for 4 on the powerplay while the Chiefs went 2 for 5. Shots favoured the Dogs 44-34.

Game 2 goes tomorrow night in Langley.

Hammer
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