The Bulldogs earned a power play inside the first 30 seconds of the game, and came painfully close on two instances to open the score as a Dawson Tritt deflection and a second opportunity later in the power play went through Matteo Paler-Chow but missed the open net behind him trickling wide. The Bulldogs continued to push the pace and have an extra jump to their step to win races to pucks and board battles, resulting in another power play at the middle of the first. They didn't threaten on this one for the most part, as the Kings efficiently killed it off. The Bulldogs continued to have an edge throughout the period, again earning a power play in the late stages after the line of Mackenzie Wight, Evan Googins and Tanner Pochipinski won a series of battles in the Kings zone. The power play was again similar to the previous opportunity, with the Kings killing it off with ease and earning momentum, while the Bulldogs spent the next couple of minutes on their heels in their zone, with Cole Demers coming up with a couple of good saves to keep it scoreless. The Kings earned their first power play of the game late in the period, but the Bulldogs killed it off to the buzzer without giving up much. Shots after the first were 11-8 Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs killed off the remaining 40 plus seconds of the power play to open the second without giving up anything, but were again promptly penalized seconds later on a needless slash 200 feet from their own net. It would end up in the back of it quickly as Ben Thomas put a pass to just outside the crease for Ethan Schmunk, who drew two defenders and Demers to him before putting a cross-ice feed onto the tape of Josh Coblenz, who made no mistake in hitting the empty net to make it 1-0 Kings at 1:28 of the second. The Bulldogs responded well to the goal against, pushing back to get several opportunities of their own on goal, but Matteo Paler-Chow made a great save on a Ryan Miotto one-timer from the slot on a Dawson Tritt set up to protect the lead. The Kings drew another power play at the midway point of the period, but the Bulldogs killed it off to keep it a one-goal game. Another power play was one-too-many later in the period, as Jayden Lee put a pass down the left wing for Christian Buono, who found Ryan Brushett with a cross-ice pass that he wristed home high, short-side over the glove of Demers to make it 2-0 at 15:04 of the second. The Bulldogs drew a penalty later in the period, and then tempers flared when Aaron Bohlinger was hit from behind by Ryan Pouliot. Despite the Bulldogs not going after Pouliot for retribution for throwing the hit, in the ensuing dust-up they were given an extra penalty which prevented them from going on a 5 on 3 power play. They would look very dangerous on the short 4 on 3 power play that ensued, with Matteo Paler-Chow making two or three solid saves on cross-ice one-timer set ups to keep it 2-0. The Bulldogs were soon afterwards penalized for high-sticking, bringing about a faceoff with one second left on the clock in the Bulldog zone. Tempers would further flare at the buzzer, as Mackenzie Wight went to one knee to block and shot attempt on the draw, and when he was down he was cross-checked in the head by Christian Buono that he didn't appreciate, but no penalties were called on the play. Shots in the period were 13-13, for a 24-21 Bulldog advantage after 40 minutes.
The third period began with the Kings on a 4 on 3 power play for 24 seconds, with Mackenzie Wight coming up with two fearless shot blocks. A minute and change of four-on-four hockey followed, before a short Bulldog power play resumed due to the major penalty. They would finally find the net on it, as Ryan Miotto fought a faceoff back to the left point with his skate for Darren Rizzolo. He would simply put a low shot on net with a quick release, where it Dawson Tritt potted the rebound off his own deflection past Paler-Chow to make it 2-1 at 3:15 of the third. The teams traded chances over the next couple of minutes, with Cole Demers coming up with a huge save on a broken play that ended up cross-ice on the tape of Ben Thomas, as Demers stayed with him and did the slits to get his glove up to keep it a one-goal game. That would prove huge as just two minutes later the Bulldogs tied it up, with Mitchel Deelstra racing to force a turnover in the Kings zone off the stick of Mitch Williams that Dawson Tritt picked off to walk into the top of the right circle, where he snapped it home short-side off the post and in past the glove of Paler-Chow to make it 2-2, un-assisted at 13:12 of the third. Third period shots were 10-6 Bulldogs, for a 34-27 advantage after 60 minutes.
Overtime ended quickly, with the Bulldogs having the first chance but being unable to connect on a 2 on 1. The Kings had a chance at the other end, on a broken play bouncing off the post and staying out. Marcus Walter would block a wrap around attempt at the side of the net, resulting in a long 2 on 1 saw Keaton Mastrodonato accept a Jackson Doucet pass up the ring wing over the Powell River line where he gave it back to him with a perfect pass for a breakaway that he deked on the forehand inside the post for the game winner and the 3-2 final.
Final shots were 34-27 Bulldogs, with Cole Demers earning 2nd star honours with the win, while Matteo Paler-Chow picked up 3rd star honours while taking the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Kings were 2 for 5.
With the win, the Bulldogs snap their losing streak at three games, and a six game road losing streak.
They are next in action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Coquitlam Express.
Hammer
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