The start was somewhat tentative, with the Bulldogs having a slight edge in play by forcing the Wild into back to back icings in the first 90 seconds, but the Wild did a good job to not give up much on net. It opened up a bit at the midway mark of the period, with a Bulldog 2 on 1 failing to end up on net due to a good back check, and a Tyler Kostelecky breakaway also not making it's way on Noah Altman in the Wenatchee net. The pace and crispness picked up as the period wore on, with both Altman and Pearson being tested from in tight. The Bulldogs would open the scoring on the rush with under seven minutes to play in the period, as they did a good job to defend their zone and transition to offence as Stephen Castagna knocked the puck loose behind the Dogs net and up the left wing for Mitchel Deelstra. He would get his feet moving immediately and fly over the Wild line before throwing a hard pass to the back post that was tapped home by Ryan Doolin at 13:07 of the first. It was quickly a 1-1 tie as the Wild answered right back, as Brett Chorske made a nice play to intercept a pass in the Bulldog zone before dropping it to the slot for Harrison Scott. Luke Pearson would make the first save, but Tyler Young lifted the rebound home at the side of the net before he could recover at 14:29 to tie it at 1-1 after the first. Shots in the period were 10 aside.
The second frame began with the Wild coming out inspired with an immediate push in the first shift, with Luke Pearson coming up with a couple of saves to keep it tied . The Bulldogs would answer right back with a push of their own, spending time in the Wild end but being unable to beat Altman. They would draw a penalty a minute later, and made good on it on the rush as Mitchel Deelstra took a Ryan Doolin pass and walked in on goal where he ripped a shot over the net, off the end glass and off the back of Altman and over the line to make it 2-1 at 4:24 of the period, with Jackson Munro also drawing an assist. Luke Pearson would come up with a solid blocker save in tight on Ethan Wolthers to protect the lead a few minutes later, with the Bulldogs continuing to push the pace through the middle of the period, and built their lead to 3-1 just past the midway point after a power play that failed to score, but looked good an earned momentum. Mitchel Deelstra would walk off the right wing into the top of the circle and fire a shot short-side that went through Altman and sat on the line where Dawson Tritt poked it home at 11:27 of the period. Late in the frame, the Bulldogs looked like they were running away with it as Tommy Bannister stole the puck outside the Wild line on the right wing to create a 2 on 1 that he worked to perfection with a cross-ice feed to Austin Spiridakis, who one-timed it over Altman from the left side of the slot to make it 4-1 Bulldogs at 18:29 of the period. The Wild didn't quit, and just a minute later made it 4-2 on a 2 on 1 that saw Ethan Wolthers lift a shot from a sharp angle off the right post up and over a sprawling Pearson off a Quinn Emmerson set up. Tanner Main also drew an assist at 19:30 of the period. Just 22 seconds later it was a one-goal game as Trevor Griebel one-timed a shot from the left point on goal where Matt Dorsey put a perfect deflection high, short-side over the blocker of Pearson to make it 4-3 at 19:52 of the second. Shots in the period were 14-12 Bulldogs, for a 24-22 advantage into the third.
The Wild had a jump to their step again to begin the third, but the Bulldogs pushed back and didn't concede much on their net to protect their lead. They would carry the play through the middle of the period, buzzing for extended periods in the Wild end but being unable to pad their lead. Just a minute later, they got all the insurance they needed on a gorgeous goal on an end-to-end rush started by a solid defensive play by Grayson Valente. Jacob Bosse would find the puck and fly out of the zone up the middle and over the Wild line where he put a drop pass onto the stick of Tommy Bannister. He would drive left and find Bosse driving the net, who cut across the crease and tucked it past Altman to make it 5-3 at 12:26 of the third. The Bulldogs didn't give up much the rest of the way, with the Wild pulling their goalie with over a minute to play to try and get back into it. They would create a chance to the slot with under five seconds to play, but Luke Pearson got a glove on it for a final exclamation point as the buzzer sounded.
Third period shots were 7-7, for a 31-29 Bulldogs advantage, as Luke Pearson earned the win while Noah Altman took the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 5 on the power play, and the Wild didn't earn an advantage.
With the win, the Bulldogs have now won five straight, and are a perfect 7 and 0 on home ice.
They are next in action tomorrow night when they visit the Grizzlies at the Q Centre in Victoria.
Hammer
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