There was a high pace of play off the opening puck drop in this one, but offensive chances were hard to come by as the game was played fairly tight and neither team made any mistakes. The Clippers would have the game's first power play but the Dogs killed it off well and didn't give up much if anything in the way of chances. As the period went on, the Clippers would build up a sizeable lead in shots, but for the most part the Bulldogs kept them to the outside or did a good job of protecting Nathan Warren. The Bulldogs would get a power play chance in the back half of the period, and they would make good on it as Brett Stewart put a shot on net from the right circle that was stopped by Decelles. A large scramble ensued that saw the puck bounce loose to Kurt Gosselin at the left side of the net where he roofed it under the bar to make it 1-0 from Josh Adkins and Dylan Haugen at 13:32 of the first. The Dogs would carry that lead into the room after 20 minutes, with the Clippers holding a 22-8 advantage in shots.
The Clippers would get an early power play to start the second on a Bench Minor to the Bulldogs for too-many-men. While the Dogs would again do a good job of killing the penalty, they couldn't get possession or clear the zone before Jake Jackson walked into the high slot un-touched where he put a wrist shot top corner, far-side off the post and in past the glove of Nathan Warren. The Bulldogs would protest, but it looked clearly in to me up in the booth. The goal was given to Cole Maier by the Referee, but it was clearly Jackson that scored. Just three minutes later the Clippers took their first lead of the game on a 1-on-1 rush where Anthony Rinaldi cut across the slot from right to left and fought a backhand on goal against the grain along the ice that slid in just past the post far-side to make it 2-1 Clippers at 7:31 of the second, with the only assist going to Yanni Kaldis. The Bulldogs would battle back with their second power play goal of the game with six minutes and change to go in the period as Brett Stewart took a quick touch pass from Mitch Makin at the top of the point and fed Chris Schutz in the left circle where he quickly released it and beat a screened Decelles top corner short-side to make it 2-2 at the 13:46 mark of the second. The Clippers would take the lead right back five minutes later as penalties began to play a factor as just twenty one seconds into a power play Nick Gushue put a shot on net from the right point that deflected in off a Bulldog defenders stick past Nathan Warren to make it 3-2 at 18:14 of the second with Brendan Taylor picking up the only assist. Just over two minutes the Clippers would strike on the power play again, this time just nine seconds into the advantage as Edwin Hookenson kept the puck in at the right point and went D-to-D to Yanni Kaldis who put a shot on goal from the left point. Nathan Warren made the first save, and the initial rebound bid hid a stick and went up in the air where it was bunted into the goal by Brett Roulston at the left side of the net to make it 4-2 at 19:43 of the period with the only assist going to Cole Maier. Shots were even at 12-12 for a 40 minute advantage for the Clippers of 34-20.
The Bulldogs appeared somewhat flat to start the third period, with Nathan Warren required to come up with back-to-back breakaway saves to keep it 4-2. After a couple of good shifts by the Dogs to push back to try and get in the game. The Clippers instead would go up 5-2 as Sheldon Rempal was allowed to walk in to the right circle where he put a perfect shot top corner, far-side under the bar past the blocker of Warren. Edwin Hookenson picked up the only assist on the play. The Bulldogs would do a good job to show no quit over the remainder of the game, but not a good enough job to show the urgency to get a goal to get back into it. Guillaume Decelles when called upon was good as the Dogs did a good job of getting pucks on net.
The Dogs out shot the Clippers 23-16 in the third period for a game total of 50-43 in favour of the Clippers with Nathan Warren taking the loss while Guillaume Decelles picked up the win. Unofficially, I had the Dogs at 2 for 5 on the power play and the Clippers at 2 for 7.
The Dogs are right back at it tomorrow night at home when they host the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Hammer
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