The game was played at breakneck speed through the first period, with the Bulldogs failing to cash in on a 2 on 1 rush in the opening minute, but making good on a follow up chance soon afterward as Mitchel Deelstra gained the attacking line up the right wing and delayed before dishing off cross-ice to Dawson Tritt. He would put a perfect pass through the seam to the backdoor to Ryan Doolin, who tapped it into the open net to make it 1-0 Bulldogs at 3:33. They kept pressing and had a couple glorious chances, followed by Jackson Glassford coming up with a big desperation save when Preston Brodziak was left wide open in front to keep it 1-0. The Spruce Kings turned the momentum when they got on the board themselves just over seven minutes in when Brendan Hill took a pass in the deep slot from Thomas Richter that he put away with a perfectly placed shot high blocker on Jackson Glassford to make it 1-1 at 7:08 of the first, with Kolton Cousins also drawing an assist. The Bulldogs pushed back, but got caught as the Spruce Kings took the lead just three minutes later on an odd-man rush finished off by a pretty passing play as Fin Williams found Chong Min Lee down the right wing. He made a perfect cross-crease pass for Nicholas Poisson, who hit the post on his initial attempt, but battled the rebound home before Glassford could recover to make it 2-1 at 10:08 of the first. Shots in the period were 11-7 Bulldogs.
The second period began with a bang, in a bad way - and it would carry throughout almost the entirety of the period as seemingly everything at the Bulldog net eventually ended up in it, while the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize on their chances. Just 16 seconds into the period it was 3-1, as a Bulldog defender couldn't make a play on a bouncing puck at centre ice. Nicholas Poisson would race in on a 2 on 1 rush up the right wing, where he put a perfectly placed shot long-side inside the post past the blocker of Glassford. The goal was unassisted. Three minutes later it was 4-1, as a Corey Cunningham net drive was stopped in alone by Glassford, but Thomas Richter banged the loose puck home at the side of the net at 3:28. The Bulldogs didn't sag, and pushed back and had something perhaps going in the offensive zone but couldn't find the net before Jackson Doucet was called for slew-footing as the Spruce Kings went to a four minute power play. They scored on both of them, first making it 5-1 when Corey Cunningham deftly deflected a Chong Min Lee shot from the slot five-hole on Glassford, with Poisson also assisting at 10:04. Fin Williams made it 6-1 at 11:50 when Glassford made a good save on a wide-open Cunningham in the hashmarks, but couldn't get help on the rebound. Chong Min Lee also picked up an assist. A Bulldog breakaway a minute later saw Ethan Jones send Jacob Bosse in alone, but Jett Alexander made a glove save. It was 7-1 four minutes later, when Mason Wickman put a shot through traffic that beat a screened Glassford, with Chong Min Lee again assisting at 15:10. Just 57 seconds later it was 8-1 as Brendan Hill put a shot at the net from the top of the point that Glassford couldn't see through a maze of bodies that hit the post and went in blocker side with Jake McLean and Brett Pfoh assisting at 16:03 as the period would finally come to an end with no further scoring. Shots in the period were 18-8 Spruce Kings for a 25-19 lead into period three.
The Bulldogs pushed in the third despite the hole, and got one back six minutes into it as Grayson Valente made a defensive play in the slot to send Isaac Pascoal up the right wing. He relayed it ahead for Jacob Bosse, who walked into the top of the right circle and ripped a perfect shot high short-side over the glove of Alexander to make 8-2 at 6:20 of the third. The Bulldogs had a couple good chances through the following minutes, but couldn't make it interesting as Tommy Bannister was in alone but hit the crossbar, followed by a Mitchel Deelstra in alone bid that saw Alexander get a left toe on it to keep it out. There would be no further scoring the rest of the way.
Third period shots were 9-4 Bulldogs, for a game total of 29-28 Spruce Kings. Jackson Glassford took the loss, giving up 8 goals on 25 shots in 40 minutes, while Jett Alexander earned the win. The Bulldogs went 0 for 4 on the power play, while the Spruce Kings went 2 for 4.
The Bulldogs are back at it tomorrow night in Chilliwack when they face the Chiefs.
Hammer
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