Action was free-flowing and fast-paced in the early minutes, with the Bulldogs doing a good job of getting on the forecheck and causing some havoc, although being unable to generate anything on net. They would earn a power play six minutes in, and made quick work of it as Ryan Miotto started it with a faceoff win, before taking a pass on the right wing wall from Keaton Mastrodonato. He would simply fire a quick low shot on net, that Matteo Paler-Chow stopped, but deflected it straight up in the air where Jackson Doucet waited just long enough for it to fall below the crossbar to bat it in to make it 1-0 at 5:12 of the first with the Referee perfectly positioned behind the net signalling goal and there being no further discussion. The Bulldogs continued to press, but a tough break saw it tied 1-1 two minutes later as Isaac Tonkin-Palmer was drilled in open ice from behind in the Powell River zone with the puck no where near him. Play continued, and seconds later it was 1-1 as Rowan Miller deftly picked up a pass between his legs at the Bulldog line and skated in alone where he beat John Hawthorne with a perfectly placed shot high glove at 7:19 of the first, with Neal Samanski drawing the lone assist. The remainder of the period was highly entertaining, with some rough stuff and two Bulldog power play chances that while not scoring were dangerous with a handful of chances around the net staying out. Shots in the first were 14-12 Kings.
The Bulldogs were penalized early in the second, but did a good job to not give up much to keep it tied. The Bulldogs had a fantastic chance to take the lead later in the period as Mitchel Deelstra was set up alone in front by Isaac Tonkin-Palmer, but Paler-Chow made a fantastic glove save to keep it 1-1 through the midway point of the period. The score stayed that way into the dying minutes of the period, where the Kings would put a hard press on in the Bulldog zone with a flurry of chances, but Hawthorne was solid to keep it 1-1 after 40 minutes, most notably getting his left toe out in tight on Josh Coblenz. Shots in the period were 10-8 Kings, for a two period total in their favour of 24-20.
The Kings began the third the way they ended the second, with a full on attack in the Dogs zone. It would end up in the back of the net after a series of pucks through the crease saw Hawthorne make the first save, but it popped out to the near post where Ryan Brushett fired it home with assists to Neal Samanski and Michael Abgrall at 1:11 of the third to make it 2-1 Kings. The Bulldogs didn't sit back, as they continued to push the pace and generate chances, but couldn't get a bounce. They would come up with another penalty kill to keep it a one-goal game, with Paler-Chow coming up with big saves during the penalty kill and immediately at it's conclusion on Austin Spiridakis and Sam Pouliot. The Bulldogs fought to the wire and had several instances of the puck rattling around the crease but just couldn't get a bounce as the Kings made the lead stand.
Third period shots were 9-8 Powell River, for a game total of 33-28 Kings, with John Hawthorne earning 2nd star honours with the loss while Matteo Paler-Chow earned 1st star honours with the win. The Bulldogs went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Kings were 0 for 2.
The Bulldogs are next in action Wednesday when they visit the Capitals in Duncan.
Hammer
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