The Bulldogs started strong, with no whistles through the opening two plus minutes of the first. The Dogs continued to press, but couldn't generate any sustained attack to open the scoring, with Hayden Missler making a couple good saves to keep it scoreless. John Hawthorne would then be tested as the Bulldogs were penalized on back to back instances later in the period. He would make one good right toe save in tight on the first opportunity, and a couple saves on the second one with the Eagles also hitting the crossbar from the point but it stayed out. The Bulldogs would push back later in the period, and generated chances and drew a power play opportunity of their own but couldn't find the net before the period ended. Shots in the first were 12-7 Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs began the second with 33 seconds on the power play, but the Eagles pursued a faceoff loss and hemmed the Dogs in their zone and never let the puck out. They had a jump that carried on for four or five minutes, testing Hawthorne with a series of shots through the first five minutes of the frame. The Bulldogs would get going near the midway point of the period, with three shifts in a row where they pushed the pace and spent extended time in the Eagles zone, but couldn't generate much to test Missler. They would then be penalized, but didn't give up much in keeping it scoreless into the back half of the second. The score would stay that way into the dying minutes of the period, with the Bulldogs again having a promising extended shift in the zone but being unable to get anything on net of consequence. The Bulldogs would have a fantastic chance in the final 30 seconds of the period to open the scoring, but a Grayson Valente one-timer from in tight off a Ryan Miotto set up hit the post and stayed out. Shots in the period were 9-6 Surrey, for a 18-16 Bulldog advantage after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs finally opened the scoring five minutes into the third, shortly after a Josh Zary net drive hit the post and stayed out. Keaton Mastrodonato would put an outlet pass up the middle for Jackson Doucet, who gained the Eagles line up the left side before finding Ryan Miotto in the right circle where he beat Missler with a quicks hot low inside the far post to make it 1-0 at 5:09 of the third. The Eagles would push right back and immediately buzz in the Bulldogs zone, and were rewarded for it as Jeremy Smith put a slap pass from the right point onto the tape of Caige Sterzer. He would walk down the slot alone on Hawthorne, who made the first save and possibly a first rebound stop but couldn't get any help before Max Mohagen jammed it home inside the far post to make it 1-1 at 10:13 of the third. The Eagles would immediately make it 2-1 as they won a couple of battles in the Dogs zone before a cross-crease pass by Corey Clifton was jammed inside the far post by Matthew McKim just 27 seconds later, with Noah Fladager also drawing an assist at 10:40 of the third. Off the next faceoff the Bulldogs had an in alone chance for Keaton Mastrodonato that saw him be unable to tuck it by Missler, before carrying hard into him resulting in Missler being forced to leave the game. The Bulldogs would be penalized two minutes later, and on the penalty kill Keaton Mastrodonato would bump replacement goalie Cayden Bailey in the far corner, resulting in Jeremy Smith cross checking him from behind and jumping on him and pummelling him in defence of his goalie. Mastronato would get the extra two minutes, resulting in the Eagles getting an 18 second 5 on 3 power play that the Bulldogs killed, but it took precious time off the clock. The Bulldogs would push for the equalizer with the goalie out into the final minute, and came painfully close on several instances but couldn't get a bounce before the Eagles sealed the deal when Liam Ryan hit the empty net with 2.9 seconds to play for the 3-1 final.
Shots in the third were 13-10 Bulldogs, for a game total of 31-26 Bulldogs with John Hawthorne taking the loss while Hayden Missler earned the win. The Bulldogs went 0 for 1 on the power play while the Eagles went 0 for 5.
The Bulldogs next see action Thursday when they visit the Grizzlies in Victoria.
Hammer
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