A pretty good start for the Bulldogs to the game as they had the early edge in shots and territorial play, holding a 10-4 lead in shots through the Media Time out just past the midway point of the first. They weren't able to get a goal to send the Teddy Bears flying though, as Guillaume Decelles made several solid saves. The Bulldogs would go to the power play in the back half of the period as Zak Bowles showed good discipline to take some stick work and turn the other cheek. The Dogs would connect on the advantage to send the Teddy Bears soaring when Kurt Gosselin found a rebound on the right half boards where he threw a perfect cross-ice pass onto the tape of Chris Schutz at the back door where he beat Decelles with a quick catch-and-shoot release to make it 1-0 at the 14:37 mark of the first. Just two minutes later the Clippers ended up in further penalty trouble as they picked up back-to-back Bench Minors at the same stoppage, one for too-many-men and one for unsportsmanlike conduct that appeared to follow up a verbal warning from the Referee. The Bulldogs would have several good opportunities to build their lead, but despite throwing 7 shots on net over the two minute 5 on 3 power play they couldn't build their lead as it stayed 1-0 after 20 minutes with the Dogs leading the shots 22-9.
The Clippers came out and pushed hard to start the second period, but the Bulldogs fought back to earn a power play that they again connected on to go up 2-0 as Brett Stewart kept the puck in at the right point before going D-to-D to Kurt Gosselin. He would make the simple play and throw a quick shot on goal that was stopped by Decelles, but he couldn't control the rebound as Mitch Makin found it and poked it in with one hand to make it 2-0 at the 5:29 mark of the period. The Clippers would get a great chance on the next shift to get on the board, but Billy Christopoulos went post to post to rob Anthony Rinaldi on a cross-ice pass off a 2 on 1 rush. The Bulldogs continued to push the pace and play with urgency, holding a 32-15 lead in shots just past the midway point of the second. A great second effort play by Scott Clark put the Dogs up 3-0 shortly after the Media Time out as he stole the puck from a Clipper in the zone and put a soft cross ice pass to the slot where Chris Schutz ripped it through the legs of Decelles for his second of the game at the 11:50 mark of the second. The Dogs out shot the Clippers 17-11 in the period for a 39-20 advantage after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs went to yet another power play early in the third period, and yet again made the Clippers pay on a pretty set up as Kurt Gosselin found Brett Stewart at the right point, where he walked down the boards before throwing another gorgeous pass on the tape of Chris Schutz in the left circle where he ripped a perfect shot top corner past Decelles for his first career hat trick and a 4-0 Bulldogs lead 4:20 into the third period. The score would stay that way until the late stages when the Clippers called time out with just over four minutes to play. Off the ensuing puck drop they would get the puck in deep and get the goalie out for the extra attacker, but they couldn't get possession as the Dogs broke out as Chris Schutz head-manned it to Mitch Makin who gained the line and went cross-ice onto the tape of Scotty Clark who ripped into the open cage for a 5-0 lead at the 16:25 mark of the third for the final score.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 52-26 with Billy Christopoulos picking up 3rd star honours with the win and his first career shut out while Guillaume Decelles took the loss. The Dogs went 3 for 8 on the power play while the Clippers went 0 for 3.
The Dogs are next in action Saturday at home against Langley.
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