The Vipers had an immediate jump to their step to start the game, and put some early pressure on due to it. It was the Bulldogs who struck first to lead 1-0 however, as Caige Sterzer carried the puck up the right wing and behind the net before playing it back to the left point for Moe Acee. He went D-to-D across the line for Carson Hemenway, who took the pass off his skate and banked it down the right wing behind the net. Isaac Pascoal would retreive it, and put a pass against the grain out front past the near post where it was one-timed home five-hole through Cole Steinke by Austin Spiridakis to make it 1-0 at 2:10 of the first. As the period wore on, the Vipers continued to carry the play, getting a handful of opportunities but being unable to beat Luke Pearson who was rock solid with the Vipers running up an 11-2 edge in shots. The Vipers earned the game's first power play in the back half of the first, but the Bulldogs killed it off and didn't give up much. They earned their first power play two minutes later, but couldn't get much going before they were penalized themselves bringing about a short four-aside scenario. The Vipers would make good on the short power play that followed as they converted on the rush with a cross-ice pass being thrown on net by Connor Marritt from the left circle. Pearson would make the first save, but Dawson Holt made no mistake on the rebound in the paint to make it 1-1 at 18:12 of the first, with Brett Fudger also drawing an assist. Shots in the period were 19-6 Vipers.
The Bulldogs couldn't make a short power play that carried over work to start the second, before the Vipers took the lead back seconds later in controversial fashion - at least from the Bulldog perspective as Cameron MacDonald put a head-high spinning wrist shot on net from outside the top of the right circle. It appeared to be over the net, with Luke Pearson putting his arms above his head in an attempt to make the save. He couldn't get anything on it, as Connor Marritt deflected it home. It certainly looked to be a high-stick, and Pearson agreed but none of the four Officials thought so as the goal would stand after a long discussion at centre ice. The Bulldogs would earn an almost immediate power play, and made good on it quickly as a passionate battle was won by Olivier Fizet and Caige Sterzer to hold the line. Josh Zary would find it on the left half-wall, before walking to the net where he fired a quick one short-side off Steinke and in to make it 2-2 at 3:12 of the second. There would be no scoring the remainder of the period, with the chances few and far between. The most notable being an in-alone chance by Olivier Fizet who split the defence and fought in alone where Steinke made a big save to keep it 2-2. The Bulldogs earned a power play late in the period that carried over to start the third. Shots in the period were 12-5 Vipers, for a 31-11 Vernon advantage into the third.
Once again the Bulldog power play failed to threaten to start the third. The Vipers would get a great chance just short of five minutes into the period, but Luke Pearson came up with a glove save on a partial breakaway down the left wing for Dawson Holt. The Vipers had a flurry of chances in the following minutes, but Pearson was fantastic to preserve the tie. The Vipers drew a power play a minute later, but the Bulldogs didn't give up much in killing it off. As the third period wore on, the Bulldogs suddenly found their legs and looked like the better team. They won successive draws in the Vipers end, and earned momentum with time spent in the attacking zone. The score remained tied into the late stages of the third, when the Bulldogs finally took the lead back with three minutes to play as Isaac Pascoal poked the puck ahead up the right wing for Tommy Bannister. He would walk wide over the Vipers line before putting a beautiful saucer pass to the far post for Austin Spiridakis who made no mistake in one-timing it home high, short-side past the blocker of Steinke to make it 3-2 at 16:57 of the third. The Vipers wouldn't go away though, as they got the goalie out for the extra attacker and found the equalizer on a centering pass that Cameron MacDonald one-timed home after regaining his footing seconds after going down in an attempt to draw a penalty, short-side past the glove of Pearson at 18:47 of the third with assists to Christian Felton and Matt Kowalski. Shots in the third were 14-10 Vipers, for a 45-21 advantage after 60 minutes.
The overtime period was a bit of a snoozer as the Vipers controlled the opening draw and while the Bulldogs made several good defensive plays, they didn't succeed often in getting possession. When they did, they had their chances, as Mitchel Deelstra drove in alone on net down the left wing but couldn't fight off a stick across his body and arms to get a shot away. The Bulldog fans were up in arms later in the period, as Caige Sterzer appeared to have a step around a defender only to have his stick slashed out of his hands but he was unable to draw a penalty. Shots in overtime were 1-0 Vipers, for a 46-21 advantage after 65 minutes as the game went to a shoot out.
The Bulldogs had the early advantage on a Dawson Tritt goal and Luke Pearson save. Ryan Doolin gave the Bulldogs an advantage, but the Vipers answered. Mitchel Deelstra again scored, but the Vipers stayed alive with a response. The Bulldogs would fail to score, and the Vipers would win it when Nicholas Kent beat Pearson with a quick release glove side for the game winner.
Final shots were 46-21 Vernon, with Luke Pearson taking the loss while Cole Steinke earned the win. The Bulldogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Vipers went 1 for 4.
The Bulldogs are next in action Friday night when they visit the Clippers in Nanaimo.
Hammer
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