Clippers 3 Dogs 2

It felt like the "old days" at the Frank Crane Arena  (for me, that's anywhere from 2003-2004 to about 2006-2007) as a huge crowd of 2799 turned out on "last chance to use your free ticket voucher night"  as the Dogs dug out of a 2-0 hole only to drop a heart breaker with another late goal against for a 3-2 final. 

I have said to several people over the last couple of years how I remembered the Friday night 2000 plus crowds in Nanaimo for Dogs vs Clips games and it was nice to feel some atmosphere in there again tonight. The 40 plus volunteers on the bus that the Dogs sent down plus the Bulldog fans that made their way to the game themselves also certainly added to the atmosphere.

The Dogs got off to one of their better starts in recent memory, but they were unable to find the net. The Clippers went up 1-0 at the 10 minute mark on a rebound off of a wrap around as Andrew Gladiuk jammed it home. Frank Slubowski didn't like the goal and protested to the official - it was hard to see from my angle but it looked like he might have had his hand on it only to see it jammed in. It was 2-0 later in the period on the power play on a great shot just off to the side of the net by Danick Malouin that was deflected into the top corner by Brayden Jaw.

The Dogs made it 2-1 in the second on a great set up by Casey Bailey as he dropped back to cover the point on the power play and made a perfect pass through the seam to Dylan Nowakowski off the back post where he fired it into the open side. The score stayed that way into the third period where the Dogs evened it up when Ollie McCluskey found Sam Mitchell in the slot where he ripped one high past Premont to tie it at 2-2.

The Clippers would catch the Dogs with a long stretch pass that resulted in a breakaway for Andrew Gladiuk. Mike Puddifant would pick up a tripping penalty as he tried to dive to knock the puck out of the way - I wouldn't have been surprised if a penalty shot was awarded, but it was just a two minute minor. No matter, the Clippers scored early in the power play for the 3-2 lead with 2:01 to play. The Bulldogs got Frank Slubowski out for the extra attacker with 1:45 to play but they couldn't get the equalizer as the Clippers held on.

Shots favoured the Clippers 20-19. The Dogs went 1 for 2 on the power play while the Clippers went 2 for 4.

The Dogs have one game left in the Regular Season as they host the Powell River Kings Saturday night at the Dog Pound.

The Dogs know who they will face in the playoffs starting Friday night, as the Langley Chiefs clinched 3rd place with a 7-6 OT win over Salmon Arm on home ice.

Bed time, more tomorrow.

Hammer



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