The Bulldogs didn't even have a chance to get into the game, before they trailed 1-0 as two back to back giveaways in their zone saw the second one end up in the back of the net as Cole Broadhurst made no mistake on a look from in tight, going high over the glove of Luke Pearson from the right circle. The Bulldogs ended up in the penalty box two minutes later, and the Capitals went to a four-minute power play. Luke Pearson was very busy, as the Capitals put a lot of rubber on net, but the Bulldogs did a good job to limit scoring chances throughout the kill as they kept it 1-0, while the Capitals ran up a 11-1 edge in shots. Once it was back to five-on-five hockey, the Bulldogs pushed back and generated opportunities of their own and turned momentum with extended shifts in the Capitals zone. They would get the equalizer in the final minute of the period on a delayed penalty, as Isaac Pascoal was knocked down in the near corner. Stephen Castagna found the puck and played it cross-ice back to the top of the right circle for Tim Gould. He would put a low shot off the far post, where Isaac Pascoal deflty deflected it top corner over the blocker of Ben Howard to make it 1-1 at 19:17 of the first. Shots in the period were 14-12 Capitals.
The teams traded chances to start the second through the opening minutes, with the Bulldogs taking the lead just short of five minutes in after a dangerous attacking zone shift for the Capitals as Mitchel Deelstra defended at the side of the net and then flew end-to-end up the left side to the slot where his first shot was blocked, right back onto his stick where he mid-air one-timed it inside the far post to make it 2-1, unassisted at 4:46 of the second. The Bulldogs earned their first power play of the game five minutes later and capitalized on the advantage in the dying seconds of it as Jackson Doucet set up Jimmy Rayhill at the top of the point, where he put a perfect pass on the tape of Jacob Bosse in the right circle that he one-timed home through the legs of Howard to make it 3-1 at 10:13 of the second. The Capitals didn't sag though, and pushed right back to earn a power play a few minutes later. They would strike on it in the late stages, on a faceoff win and a cross-ice pass to the deep slot where Will Arquiette put a quick release past the blocker of Pearson to make it 3-2 at 14:01 of the period, with assists to Olivier Gauthier and Primo Self. The Bulldogs came painfully close seconds later to restoring their two-goal lead, as Ben Howard made a save but kicked a rebound off the body of Jacob Bosse where it just bounced wide of the open net. Seconds later, the Bulldogs went back to the penalty box. It took the Capitals just 9 seconds on the power play to make it 3-3 as Olivier Gauthier put a quick release from the top of the point past the blocker of a screened Pearson, with Will Arquiette and Primo Self drawing the assists at 15:44 to make it 3-3. Shots in the period were 13-12 Capitals, for a 27-24 Capitals advantage.
The third period was again played at a high pace through the early stages, with the Capitals going to the penalty box short of seven minutes in. The Bulldogs again made them pay as Jacob Bosse made a nice pass to the right point for Jimmy Rayhill. He slid it cross-ice onto the tape of Jackson Doucet who walked into the top of the left circle where he snapped a shot long-side past the glove of Howard to make it 4-3 at 7:15 of the third. The score stayed that way into the final five minutes, with the Bulldogs having several great chances around the Capitals net but being unable to build their lead. The Bulldogs were again sent to the penalty box with under four minutes to play, with the Capitals remaining on the power play when play was stopped and Primo Self was ejected from the game, but not given a minor penalty. That would be a factor, as the Capitals tied the game on the power play when Zach Brooks deflected a Dimitri MikroGiannakis shot five-hole on Pearson, with Luc Wilson also assisting at 16:25. The Bulldogs answered back and took the lead again with 1:28 to play as Grayson Valente put a perfect pass onto the tape of Tim Gould at the top of the right circle. He ripped a perfect far-pad low shot that resulted in a rebound that Stephen Castagna one-timed low through a diving Howard to make it 5-4 at 18:32. The Capitals didn't quit, and fought to the buzzer and tied the game with ten seconds to play after Pearson made two good saves around the net but couldn't get help on the rebound as Dan McIntyre poked it home, with Dimitri Mikrogiannakis drawing the lone assist to make it 5-5 and force overtime. Third period shots were 17-17, for a 44-41 Capitals advantage.
Overtime saw the Capitals have initial possession, but be unable to generate a chance on Pearson. The Bulldogs fought to get it back, and had a couple of looks of their own before the Capitals defended and got the puck back in their end. They would go D-to-D but give it away, as Ryan Doolin out-fought a defender and walked off the left wing wall to the middle where he snapped a low one on net where Jackson Doucet deflected it home for the game winner and the 6-5 final at 2:24 of overtime.
Overtime shots were 3-0 Bulldogs, for a 44-44 total with Luke Pearson earning the win while Ben Howard took the loss. The Bulldogs went 2 for 4 on the power play, while the Capitals went 3 for 6.
The Bulldogs are next in action Saturday night, AT HOME, when they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Hammer
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