The Bulldogs earned a power play chance a minute into the game, and while they looked good on it were unable to generate any opportunities to test Aiden Porter. The pace picked up both ways over the next five to six minutes, but neither side was able to get any sustained pressure or catch either side pushing to create any odd-man rushes. The Bulldogs earned another power play at the midway point of the period, but besides the opening draw weren't able to generate any sustained set up in the zone. A glorious set up to the front of the net for Evan Googins somehow stayed out with under five minutes to play in the period. The Vipers then generated a good chance of their own on a breakdown by the Bulldogs in their zone late in the first, but Cole Demers got his right toe on a Josh Latta one-timer from in tight to keep it scoreless through 20 minutes. Shots after the first were 10-6 Vernon.
The second period again was played at a high pace through the first few minutes. The Bulldogs had a great chance to open the scoring on a breakaway chance for Mitchel Deelstra that appeared to just miss short-side. Just a minute later the Vipers would open the scoring on an odd one as an initial shot on the rush was deflected wide. Teddy Wooding found the rebound first behind the goal line, and appeared to bank it it off Demers to make it 1-0 at 2:32 of the period. A minute and change later it was 2-0 on another odd one as a shot from the point was deflected in tight by Nicholas Cherkowski past Demers to make it 2-0 at 3:57 of the second with Coleton Biloudeau drawing the assist. The Bulldogs came painfully close in the middle of that sequence to getting on the board, as Grayson Valente one-timed a Stephen Castagna feed past Porter but off the post that stayed out. The Vipers took a 3-0 lead two minutes later on the rush, as Jagger Williamson kept the puck up the left wing on a 2 on 2 rush and snapped one short-side through the arm of Demers. The lone assist went to Josh Latta at 6:02 of the second, as John Hawthorne would enter the game to relieve Demers. The Bulldogs once again had a fantastic chance to make a game of it, as Mitchell Deelstra raced in on another breakaway, but Porter came up with a big glove save to protect the lead. The Bulldogs didn't show any signs of packing it in, but despite a couple of chances couldn't get a bounce to make a game of it. The Vipers would tack onto their lead late in the period on a partial 2 on 1 rush that saw Ben Sanderson pick up a Michael Young chip at centre and skate over the Bulldog line up the right side where he picked the top corner, short-side over the glove of Hawthorne to make it 4-0 at 19:16 of the period. Shots in the second were 17-9 Vipers, for a 40 minute total in their favour of 27-15.
The third period saw neither side able to generate offence in the early minutes. Tempers flared short of the four minute mark as Spencer Hora and Alex Swetlikoff dropped the gloves for a spirited fight that saw Hora the definite winner that resulted in the Vipers bench being visibly upset at the end of it. The Vipers ended up on a power play out of it, but were quickly penalized for Goalie Interference. Another Viper penalty put the Dogs on a 4 on 3, and short 5 on 3 power play, but again they couldn't capitalize on it to make a game of it. The teams would trade power play opportunities through the bulk of the remainder of the game, with neither side able to find the net with emotions remaining high until the final buzzer.
Third period shots were 15-11 Vernon, for a 42-26 total in their favour, with Aiden Porter picking up the win and 1st star honours with the shut out while Cole Demers gave up three goals on sixteen shots in 26:02 in taking the loss while John Hawhorne was beaten once on twenty six shots in relief. The Bulldogs went 0 for 6 on the power play while the Vipers went 0 for 2.
The Bulldogs are next in action Friday night in Prince George.
Hammer
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