Bulldogs Season Members, just a reminder that you have until Thursday to purchase your seats for games 3 & 4 of the Island Division Semi-Final presented by AV Financial. After Thursday, all un-purchased seats will be open for sale.
The box office hours for this week are:
Tuesday and Thursday: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Next week we will be open
Monday March 4th: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday March 5th: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (Game 3)
Wednesday March 6th: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (Game 4)
The Island Division Semi-Final Schedule is as follows:
Game 1- Friday March 1st - Q Centre
Game 2- Saturday March 2nd - Q Centre
Game 3- Tuesday March 5th - Multiplex
Game 4 - Wednesday March 6th- Multiplex
Game 5- Friday March 8th- Q Centre *If Necessary
Game 6- Saturday March 9th - Multiplex *If Necessary
Game 7- Monday March 11th- Q Centre *If Necessary
There was lots of flow and few whistles early, and the energy was higher than expected with the game of no consequence in the standings, perhaps due to the number of affiliate players on both sides of the puck who were excited at the opportunity. Each side had a couple of opportunities through the first, but both John Hawthorne and Matteo Paler-Chow kept it scoreless through 20 minutes. One especially scintillating save came late in the period while the Bulldogs were on the power play on a pretty Rowan Miller set up across the crease that saw John Hawthorne make yet another highlight reel save by kicking out his right pad to rob Ben Wozney of what looked like a sure goal. Shots in the first were 14-12 Bulldogs.
The second period saw the Kings have an early power play, but be unable to find the net on it with John Hawthorne making a couple good saves in tight early. The Bulldogs would be unable to answer back to generate any momentum before the Kings opened the scoring two minutes later as Deepkaran Hans intercepted a clearing play up the wall and raced in alone where he fought off a backchecker to beat Hawthorne with a quick release short-side from the right side of the slot to make it 1-0, unassisted for his first career goal at 6:17 of the second. The Bulldogs killed off another Kings power play opportunity to keep it tied, before they got the equalizer on a power play of their own with under six to play in the frame as Michael Hodge set up Aaron Bohlinger at the top of the left point where he simply put a quick release on goal that was deflected through Paler-Chow by Josh Zary at the front of the net to make it 1-1 at 12:24 of the second. The Bulldogs weren't able to build on the momentum, as the Kings continued to generate opportunities on Hawthorne, resulting in them taking a lead late in the period after Hawthorne had made the first save on a Matthew Byrne deflection of a Brendan Saether point shot. He but couldn't get help on the rebound as Ethan Schmunk found it and slid it home at the far side of the crease to make it 2-1 at 18:18 of the second, with assists to Matthew Byrne and Jacob Paler-Chow. Shots in the period were 17-5 Kings, for a 40 minute total in their favour of 29-19.
The third period flew by through the early minutes, with neither side able to generate much on net or in the way of sustained time in the attacking zone. As the period approached the midway point, the Bulldogs tied it up when Keaton Mastrodonato went down to block a shot and quickly got back to his feet to accept an outlet up the left wing from Austin Spiridakis that he carried over the Kings line before delaying and throwing it across the zone for Aaron Bohlinger walking through the right circle where he threw it on goal. Paler-Chow would make the first save, but he couldn't find the rebound before Austin Spiridakis swept it home at the side of the net. There would be no scoring through rthe remainder of the third, with Hawthorne again coming up with a couple big saves in tight, with some help from Dawson Tritt on a loose puck on an open net that kept it tied. Third period shots were 10-7 Bulldogs, for a 60 minute total of 36-29 Kings.
Overtime started with a bang, with Isaac Tonkin-Palmer racing in alone in the opening seconds but just putting a shot high and wide. Seconds later, Aaron Bohlinger flipped the puck to the middle and split the D to race in alone where he drew a penalty in being stopped by Paler-Chow. The Bulldogs had a couple good chances before being whistled for a penalty themselves. They would kill that off, and again have a fantastic chance when it was back to 3 on 3 that saw Evan Googins go forward off a draw and set up Michael Hodge across the crease, only to have Paler-Chow make a highlight reel glove save to keep the game going. Another late Bulldog penalty put the Kings back to the power play in the dying seconds, but shot blocks by Isaac Tonkin-Palmer and Stephen Castagna killed the clock to force the shoot out. Overtime shots were 5-4 Kings, for a game total of 41-33 Powell River,
In the shoot out, Keaton Mastrodonato and Mitch Williams went first on either side but neither of them could battle the ice to get a shot on net. Aaron Bohlinger went next, and gave the Bulldogs the lead walking slowly down the left side to the slot where he snapped it far-side low off the post and in to make it 1-0. Hawthorne would give the Bulldogs a chance to win on their next shooter, as he came up with a left toe save in tight in out waiting Ben Thomas. Dawson Tritt would be the next shooter, and he made good on the opportunity as he attacked in the same fashion as he flew in at high speed up the left side of the slot before ripping it far-side low past the glove of Paler-Chow for the game winner.
John Hawthorne earned the win in goal with first star honours, while Matteo Paler-Chow took the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Kings went 0 for 5.
The Bulldogs are next in action Friday and Saturday for Games 1 and 2 of the Best of Seven Island Division Semi Final series as they visit the Grizzlies at the Q Centre. Games 3 and 4 are back in Port Alberni March 5th an 6th. Game 5 if necessary would be in Victoria March 8th, a Game 6 if needed is March 9th in Port Alberni and if a Game 7 is required it would be at the Q Centre on March 11th.
Hammer
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