The Bulldogs were extremely motivated to play in this one, getting out to a great start in taking a 5-0 lead in shots just two minutes into the game with several great scoring chances. Both goalies were good early, with Gordy Defiel making several point blank stops while Connor LaCouvee also came up big when it was still scoreless robbing Corey Mackin and Nic Rasovic on the doorstep. The Bulldogs would take a 1-0 lead on the rush just past the midway point of the period when Darien Henry found Scott Clark at centre ice, who then sent Mitch Makin up the left wing. Makin used his speed and drove wide before finding Harlan Orr driving the net, who one-timed it home at 10:25 of the first. Four minutes later it was 2-0 as the Dogs won an extended battle in the Express zone and Mak Barden found the puck and fed Brodie Clowes at the top of the point where he put a shot on net that was stopped by Defiel, but the rebound was found by Orr who potted his second of the game at 14:56. The Express would get on the board shortly afterwards as the Dogs failed to get the puck out of their own end. No one would pick up Corey Mackin who drove the net and one-timed an Adam Rockwood pass from behind the net through the legs of LaCouvee to make it 2-1 at 16:10 with Ryan Rosenthal also drawing an assist. The Dogs would lead the shots on goal 23-6 after 20 minutes.
The Dogs started the second on the power play, and made quick work of the advantage as Hunter Stewart got the puck back of the net and battled it loose for Mak Barden, who fed it back to Stewart. He found Justin Georgeson at the side of the net below the goal line where he stepped out front and went top corner to make it 3-1 just 26 seconds into the second period. The Bulldogs built the lead to 4-1 just past the five minute mark when Zak Bowles won a faceoff in the Express end onto the tape of Ryan Buse who one-timed it through Defiel. Tryg Strand also drew an assist on the play at 5:39. The Dogs kept their foot on the gas, making it 5-1 just past the midway point of the period when Ryan Buse stepped up aggressively at centre ice and intercepted a pass and wheeled it over the Express line and tried to split the D. He would be stopped, but the puck bounced back onto the tape of Hunter Stewart in the slot who blew a slap shot past the glove of Defiel, with Strand also drawing an assist at 10:06 of the second. The Dogs were in uncharted waters and it showed, as the Express spent the better part of the rest of the period taking the play to them, and getting several good scoring chances. The Bulldog Coaching Staff would take their Time Out later in the frame to settle things down, as the Dogs led 5-1 after two while being out shot in the period 21-6.
The Express continued to get the better of the chances in the third and eventually found the net after 4 or 5 great saves by Connor LaCouvee as Bo Pieper roofed a loose puck from the slot to make it 5-2 with 6:06 gone in the third. The collar would no doubt get a little tight four minutes later as the Express pulled within two on the power play when Joey Santucci one-timed home a cross-crease pass by Adam Rockwood to make it 5-3. Canon Pieper also drew an assist on the play at 10:19 of the third. The Bulldogs would do a good job of protecting the lead over the remainder of regulation as they salted the time away by winning battles and getting pucks in deep. The Express would pull their goalie for the extra attacker with just over a minute to go to try and get within one but the Dogs would seal the deal as Harlan Orr took a shot at the empty net from his own end and hit it dead centre for a 6-3 lead and his first career hat trick with 1:05 to go. The goal was unassisted. The Express didn't go quietly, as they drew back within one on the next shift as Mark Biega one-timed a loose puck over Connor LaCouvee from the slot off a Zach Hodder point shot with 46 seconds to play to make it a 6-4 final.
Shots favoured the Express 45-37 with Connor LaCouvee picking up the win and Gordie Defiel taking the loss. Both teams went 1 for 3 on the power play.
The Dogs are back at it tomorrow when they face the Eagles in Surrey.
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