A great start for the Bulldogs, in what is always a tough rink to play in. As has been the case this season however, the Dogs were unable to capitalize and get that early goal to take a lead. They led the shots at one point 7-0 just over seven minutes into the game. They built that advantage to 11-2 with 8:31 to play...but shots that go in don't really matter, do they? One penalty was all it took to turn the tide, as the Kings got their feet under them and started to carry the play. Just over a minute after the Dogs had killed the first one off, they went right back to the box again. While they would kill the penalty off, the player didn't have time to get back into the play as the Kings found the net on an Aiden Wright shot from the left point past the blocker of Brad Rebagliati. Assists on the play went to Kurt Keats and Jordan Burns as it was 1-0 at 16:57 of the first. The Dogs would take another penalty on the next shift that they managed to kill off, with the Kings taking a 16-11 advantage in shots into the room after one, outshooting the Dogs 14-0 to end the frame.
The second period again saw good end-to-end action with each team getting chances, most notably Mak Barden being awarded a penalty shot just 4:00 into the period after getting hooked up on a clear-cut breakaway. Barden would attempt to go low blocker, but Jeff Smith came up with the save to keep it 1-0. The score would remain that way until just short of the midway mark of the frame when the Dogs got burned on a horrible change just after killing off a penalty. The Kings would race in on a 4 on 2 rush where Brad Rebagliati made a good first save on Kurt Keats, but Keats potted his own rebound into the open side. Assists went to Jarid Lukosevicius and Jordan Burns at 9:02 of the second.
A controversial incident shortly afterwards saw the Bulldogs go to the power play, but one thinks it should have been more than a minor penalty as Luca Doctor was drilled from behind by Ryan Scarfo and laid motionless on the ice as a large-scale scrum ensued. The referee looked directly at the hit when it happened, and made no penalty call at the time. After a long discussion, Scarfo would get two minutes for boarding. As far as I'm aware Linesman can only call major penalties, and Referees can't call penalties later after they decided not to in the first place. I don't know what happened in this instance, but it appears the rule book might have ended up a little bent.
The Kings would take a 3-0 lead late in the period after they hemmed the Dogs in their zone after several poor clearing attempts failed to get out. Luke McCaw would find the net, sliding one along the ice just inside the far post. Kyle Chatham and Luke Ripley drew the helpers at 16:59 of the second for a 3-0 Kings lead after two. The only goal the rest of the way was again controversial from the Bulldogs point of view as a shot from the line appeared to be going high over the net before being deflected home down through the legs of Rebagliati. The Dogs appealed for a high stick call, to no avail. Brayden Taekema scored it, with Aidan Wright picking up the only assist at 9:30 of the third.
Shots favoured the Kings 35-33 with Jeff Smith picking up the win and the shut out with 1st star honours while Brad Rebagliati took the loss. I had the Kings at 0 for 4 on the power play. The Dogs officially went 0 for 3, but their third came with just 27 seconds left in the game.
Next up, a trip down to Victoria on Friday to face the Grizzlies for the first time this season.
Hammer
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