Dogs snap streaks, top Clippers 6-4

An outstanding game from the opening puck drop, with great flow to the game and no stoppages of play for the first three minutes of the game. The Clippers would open the scoring, somewhat against the flow of play as Edwin Hookenson went D to D across the blue line to Scott Prier at the left point where he put a low slap shot on goal that was deflected home in the slot by Brendan Taylor, top corner, glove side on LaCouvee at the 4:52 mark. The Bulldogs wouldn't be deterred, and they continued to have the better of the play and the chances, eventually leading to the tying goal as Jakson Elynuik found Darien Henry at the point who set up Brett Stewart in the right circle where he snapped one low blocker, inside the far post on Liam McLeod to make it 1-1 at 13:05 of the first. The Dogs would have several outstanding chances to take the lead, most notably on a 2 on 1 where Mak Barden set up Justin Georgeson, but McLeod came over to make a fantastic save to keep it 1-1 after one.         

The Dogs would take their first lead of the game just over two minutes into the second as the Clippers won a draw in their own end but didn't get the puck as Hunter Stewart retrieved it and put a centering pass onto the tape of a wide-open Zak Bowles in the slot who ripped one top corner under the bar past McLeod to make it 2-1 Dogs at 2:22. The Clippers would go to the power play shortly afterwards where they tied the game as Spencer Hewson took a cross ice pass from Sheldon Rempal and went top corner, short-side on LaCouvee. Korey Morgan also picked up an assist on the play at 4:51 of the second to make it 2-2. The Clippers would control the play for a stretch and have the better of the chances, the most notable of which might have been a Bo Brauer one-timer from the hashmarks, but LaCouvee came up with a huge shoulder save. The Dogs would take the lead back against the flow of play when Ryan Buse took a cross-ice pass at the left point from Josh Adkins before throwing a wrist shot through traffic that beat McLeod low, long side. Rob Click also picked up an assist on the play as it was 3-2 Dogs at the 12:09 mark of the second. Less than a minute later the Clippers would tie it right back up when Devin Brosseau deflected home a Brendan Taylor pass from the slot through LaCouvee, with Chris Newton also picking up a helper at 12:46 to make it 3-3. It would be the Dogs turn this time to answer in a hurry, when the puck came back to the right point where Garrett Halls threw a wrist shot on net that again beat McLeod low, long side for the first career goal from Halls, from Scottie Clark and Hunter Stewart at 13:23 of the second to make it 4-3. The Dogs would take a two goal lead into the room after two periods when they found the net on the power play, snapping a five-game power play goal drought in the process, after they hemmed the Clippers in their zone for 1:41 in duration before finally finding the net when Scott Clark put a wrist shot from the top of the right circle through the seven hole of McLeod to make it 5-4 Dogs with just 9 seconds to go in the period, with assists to Tryg Strand and Kurt Gosselin. 

The third period saw the Clippers make it a one-goal game with just over ten minutes to play when the Dogs defence both missed the puck at the Clipper blue line resulting in breakaway for Anthony Sabitsky that he converted on as he squeaked it through the legs of LaCouvee to make it 5-4 with 9:22 gone in the third, and assists on the play going to Scott Prier and Korey Morgan. The Dogs would make the lead stand until the late stages of the third when Tryg Strand drew a penalty with hard work in the Clippers zone. The Dogs would connect on the advantage as Harlan Orr put a perfect shot on net from the top of the left circle that was deflected past Jayson Argue by Scott Clark for his second of the game to make it 6-4. Darien Henry also picked up an assist on the play at 15:47 of the third, as the Dogs made the lead stand and salted the rest of the time away. 

Shots were even at 40 aside with Connor LaCouvee picking up the win while Liam McLeod took the loss giving up 5 goals in 40 minutes. The Dogs went 2 for 3 on the power play while the Clippers went 1 for 4. 

The Dogs are in action tomorrow night when they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals in a huge four point game.