A fast paced start to the game from both sides of the puck, as it was evident that both teams were well aware of the stakes. The Bulldogs had the better of the chances early, but couldn't beat Lane Michasiw. Billy Christopoulos wasn't tested as often but was solid when called upon. A scary incident short of the midway mark of the first period saw Kurt Gosselin attempt a hip check at centre ice, only to glance off the Capital and cartwheel through the air before striking his head on the boards. He would remain down for a short time before skating off on his own power, but it was certainly a nasty collision. The Bulldogs looked like they had taken a 1-0 lead late in the first when Braden Fuller stole the puck and Garrett Halls blasted a one-timer on goal that trickled in through Michasiw, but the goal was disallowed due to incidental contact on the Caps goalie. Shots through 20 minutes favoured the Dogs 15-5.
The Capitals would be awarded a power play early in the second when the Dogs were whistled for too-many-men, and they would connect on it on an off the net shot from the right circle that was deflected in by Adam Osczevski, with assists to Skylar Pacheco and Rylan Bechtel at 2:04 of the second to open the scoring. The Bulldogs were a post away from answering on the next shift when Eric Therrien put a quick wrister on goal from just outside the Capitals line that Michasiw wiffed on, but it hit the post and stayed out. Another great period for the Bulldogs saw them control the bulk of the play, but fail to find the net as they out shot the Caps 15-8 over the period for a 40 minute advantage of 30-13 yet they still trailed 1-0.
The Dogs came out with another great start to the third period, but took an attacking-zone penalty just a minute into the frame. Despite killing it off, they found themselves down 2-0 just a minute after the kill as Jacob Switzer put a shot at the net from the right point that deflected off traffic before going rink wide and onto the stick of Darien Craighead to fired it into the open net. Assists on the play went to Sean Harrison and Kyle Horsman at 4:18 of the third. The Bulldogs wouldn't deflate despite finding themselves in a two goal hole, as they answered right back a minute and a half later as both Braden Fuller and Eric Therrien did a great job to cycle the puck and keep it deep before getting it back to the right point for Brett Stewart who walked in and ripped a top corner slap shot short-side past Michasiw. Tyler Povelofskie picked up the only assist on the play at 5:53 of the third. The Dogs would get a big chance to tie the game when they were awarded a power play with just over seven minutes to play, but for the most part the power play sputtered and didn't threaten. They would get another break four minutes later when the Capitals picked up another penalty and Scott Clark escaped being sent to the box when he retaliated on Julien LePage. The Dogs would connect just 10 seconds into the advantage when Braden Fuller went D-to-D to the left point to Brett Stewart who put a perfect cross-seam pass into the tape of Mitch Makin in the right circle where he put a perfect shot top corner, short-side on Michasiw to make it a 2-2 game with 3:29 to play. It looked as if the Dogs might have scored the go ahead goal on the next shift when Josh Adkins banked one from behind the goal line that ended up in the feet of Michasiw, who was well behind the goal line. The Referee unfortunately wasn't in a position to see if it was in or not. The Dogs would get one more power play with 1:50 to play in the third when again he was battling with Julien LePage, however Clark would contact a Capital at their bench on the way back to the Dogs bench, apparently after being sprayed with a water bottle from the Caps bench - keep in mind that's just the Dogs side of the story, of course. The Referee didn't appear to see the incident, but I guess in this instance a Linesman was allowed to assist in calling a Minor Penalty as the opportunity was taken away and it went back to five on five. Neither team would be able to find the net through 10 minutes of overtime, with both Michasiw and Christopoulos coming up with a series of huge saves, on breakaway chances for Mitch Makin, Kyle Horsman and Scottie Clark as the game ended in a very rare 2-2 final score.
Shots favoured the Bulldogs 41-29 with Billy Christopoulos and Lane Michasiw being the goalies of record, with Michasiw picking up 2nd star honours as the Capitals swept all three stars. The Dogs went 1 for 4 on the power play while the Capitals went 1 for 3.
The teams go back at it tomorrow night at the Dog Pound.
Hammer
No comments:
Post a Comment