Kings top Dogs 5-1

A high-energy, back and forth start to the contest as the Dogs spent the first minute on defence in their own zone, before pushing back the net minute and spending an extended period on the attack in the Kings zone. The Dogs would have the better of the play through the first half of the frame, running up a 6-1 lead in shots through the first 10 minutes. They would continue to push the pace and generated a couple chances, but Stefan Wornig came up big in net to keep it scoreless. Late in the period a high hit knocked Cayden Kraus to the ice and the Dogs got caught up ice, resulting in a 3 on 1 rush the other way for the Kings that they make no mistake on as Gavin Rauser walked in tight down the left wing where he ripped one top corner, short-side on Tai to make it 1-0 at 16:10 of the first. The Kings would go to the man advantage with less than two minutes to play in the period and would make good on it with the Bulldogs being unable to clear the puck out of the zone over a minute and a half and a handful of good stops by Tai. The Kings would find the net on a rebound in the slot that was fired home by Curtis McCarrick, with Nick Halagian and Rylan Ball at 19:35 of the first to make it 2-0 after one period, with the Dogs leading in the shots 9-8.

The Dogs were noticably a step behind to begin the second, as the Kings had a breakaway within the first minute that saw Chris Tai make a good save on Jeremy Leipsic. The Kings however would go up 3-0 less than a minute later on a 3 on 1 rush as Curtis McCarrick picked up a Nick Halagian pass and walked in on a 2 on 0 rush that he finish with a snap shot past the glove of Tai from in tight 1:32 into the period. Less than a minute later it was 4-0 as the Kings kept up the attack, with Gavin Rauser potting an end-board bounce after a point shot missed the net short-side and bounced out front at the opposite post. Tai and a Bulldog defender made a valiant attempt to keep it out, but Gavin Rauser would jam it home for his second of the game. Rylan Ball and Austin Kamer picked up the assists at 2:23 of the second as Carson Schamerhorn entered the game off the bench in relief of Tai in the Bulldogs net. Despite the no doubt deflating beginning to the period, the Dogs showed considerable moxie to not quit, as they fought hard to get in the game throughout the period. They would finally draw their first power play chance of the game late in the frame, but it would be the Kings who found the net as the Dogs turned the puck over up high at the blue line as the Kings raced in on another 2 on 0 rush. A give-and-go passing play saw Nick Halagian feed Kyle Betts. As he cut across the crease, Schamerhorn tried to follow him and pushed off on the post, dislodging the net. The referee at the net would count the goal, but it appeared to me the net was clearly off. The time of the goal was 17:14 of the second, it was the first shorthanded goal the Dogs conceded this season. The Kings led in the shots in the second 17-11 for a two period advantage of 25-20 and a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes.

The Dogs would trim the deficit early in the third as Troy Dobbs head-manned it for Jordan Sandhu. He and Josh Adkins would work a give and go over the Kings line that saw Adkins put a low shot on net from the right circle. While it was stopped by Wornig, he couldn't control the rebound as Jordan Sandhu lifted it up and over his glove, top corner to make it a 5-1 game with just 1:45 gone in the third. The Bulldogs would earn a power play later in the period, that turned into a 5 on 3 for 35 seconds after Nick Nonis picked up four minutes for spearing. The Dogs called time out and executed a set play, but the Kings blocked the shot. It would be the prevailing theme of the advantage, as while the Dogs got a fair amount of rubber on net in tight on Wornig and had some chances in tight, the Kings blocked just as many shots. Nick Halagian was most notable as he blocked two point blank blasts back to back. There would be no scoring the rest of the way.

Final shots favoured the Kings 31-28, with Stefan Wornig picking up 3rd star honours with the win while Chris Tai took the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 4 on the power play while the Kings went 1 for 5.

A frustrating result for the Bulldogs, a fairly solid game throughout, with four minutes of game time where a couple of mistakes bit them and hugely changed the complexion of the game. One goal obviously isn't going to win it in the end - but giving up a couple they way they did to end the first and open the second didn't give them a chance.

The Dogs are in Victoria Thursday before returning home to host Cowichan.

Hammer