Grizz 5 Dogs 4

Another heart breaker for the second game in a row as the Dogs comeback in the third to erase a two goal deficit, only to see a late goal by the opposition stand up as the winner.

It was 1-0 Victoria just short of 5 minutes in on a Mitch Labreche goal on a broken play. The Dogs tied it later in the period on a beautiful Casey Bailey goal on a nice set up by Josh Mitchell. Just three minutes later the Grizz were back on top though, as Wesley Myron tapped in a cross-crease feed on the powerplay.

Victoria took a 3-1 lead on a 5 on 3 powerplay early in the second on a Justin Fillion blast from the slot, and then 4-1 on a Taylor Pernerowski shot from the right point. Frank Slubowski came up with a huge save on an unguarded Kyle St. Denis at the top of his crease with less than a minute to go in the second to keep it close. That would be big just seconds later when Josh Mitchell was sent in alone on a long stretch pass by Connor Varley where he beat Matt Ginn to make it 4-2 Victoria after two.

The Dogs came out with good urgency in their game in the third, making it 4-3 just short of six minutes in when Mike Puddifant pinched in to find a puck thrown deep on a great keep by Lars Hepso. He would throw it at the net where Brandon Adams deflected it home. The Grizzlies would have several outstanding chances to get some insurance, but Frank Slubowski was huge on several great chances including a Kyle St. Denis breakaway to keep his team in it. They would reward him with the tying goal with 8:22 to play as Josh Mitchell fed Kyle Weber coming off the left point where he blew a slap shot home to tie it at 4-4.

And then the dreaded official placed his influence on the outcome.

Tanner Hicks was tripped up by Kyle St.Denis from behind coming out of the corner of his own zone with a stick in his feet, directly in front of the official. It was the second such trip on the same shift on a Bulldog player.Despite the powerplays at this point being 6 to 1 in favour of the Grizzlies, and the Dogs not having a powerplay chance since the 24 second mark of the first period they couldn't get a break from the official.

There would be no call, and 10 seconds later it would be 5-4 Victoria as Mitch Labreche found a Kyle St. Denis rebound and fired it home.

I think I described it as garbage at the time. Still seems fitting now, although sometimes calling a spade a spade in this league reflects badly on you, as I've touched on more than a few times this season.

Just one minute later (what a coincidence!) the Bulldogs went to the powerplay for the first time since the game was 20 seconds old. Another huge even up a minute later saw the Dogs go to a 5 on 3 powerplay, as the Grizzlies were penalized twice in 60 seconds, after only being whistled for one infraction over the previous 57 minutes of hockey.

Unfortunately the damage was already done as the Dogs couldn't come back one more time.

Shots favoured the Dogs 37-32.

The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the powerplay.

The Grizzlies went 2 for 6.


My prediction - this will be coming to a BCHL rink near you pretty soon as the last games of the regular season play out and the playoffs begin- recently seen in the SJHL, and around the country on TSN




Hammer

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