The Bulldogs took a few minutes to get going, as the Spruce Kings had an early 3-0 edge in shots on goal. Although they weren't Grade A chances, Jackson Glassford looked sharp. The Bulldogs would get their feet moving and respond, with a handful of glorious in alone chances for Mitchel Deelstra, Olivier Fizet and Caige Sterzer but Jett Alexander was fantastic to keep it scoreless. The Spruce Kings countered with a couple good chances of their own, on two separate power play chances throughout the period, but Jackson Glassford was great, and also got some help as he made a breakaway save and then Josh Zary dove across the goal line to save what looked like a sure goal to keep it scoreless. At the other end, Alexander came up with a shorthanded breakaway save on Ryan Doolin to preserve the tie. Shots in the period were 19-12 Spruce Kings.
The Bulldogs began the second period flying, and established a 3-0 lead by the 4:19 mark with goals in a span of two minutes and thirteen seconds. The scoring opened with a pass by Jackson Doucet back to the left point for Moe Acee. He would put a low hard one on net that Alexander stopped, but Stephen Castagna found the loose puck in the paint and jammed it home at 2:06 of the second. A minute and change later, it was 2-0 as Tommy Bannister supported a battle on the wall to send Jacob Bosse on a 2 on 1 up the left wing over the Prince George line. He would drive wide and then put a perfect pass onto the tape of Affiliate Player Josh Pederson, who made no mistake into the open net at 3:41. Just 38 seconds later, it was 3-0, as Dawson Tritt carried the puck over the line up the left side again on an odd man rush, where he dished off to Mitchel Deelstra, who put a perfect pass across the slot to a wide-open Ryan Doolin who deposited it into the open side at 4:19. The Spruce Kings would earn a third straight power play chance to open the game a couple minutes later, and a very odd scenario saw them make it 3-1 as Tim Gould was knocked down, and his helmet came off. He did not immediately leave the ice, as the rules state. He also threw a couple of punches on a Spruce King player, and also wasn't penalized. Seconds later, the puck went on net where Glassford made the save, but the puck went up in the air and off of Nicholas Poisson and in past Glassford to make it 3-1 at 12:38 of the second with Nolan Welsh assisting. The Bulldogs would push right back with a great shift, and continued to carry the play in the following minutes leading to their first power play of the game. They would threaten on it, but couldn't find the net. Seconds after the chance was over, it was 3-2 as Nolan Welsh drove down the left wing and right in on net where he flipped a wrist shot past the glove, long-side on Glassford at 17:58 of the second. Shots in the period were 12-12, for a 31-24 advantage for the Spruce Kings after 40 minutes.
The Spruce Kings started the third period with a jump, and quickly parlayed it into the equalizer, as a giveaway behind the net saw Corey Cunningham steal the puck and put it right onto the tape of Jaxon Steele between the hashmarks where he beat Glassford glove side with a quick release to make it 3-3 at 1:38 of the third. The Spruce Kings kept pushing, and the Bulldogs weren't able to answer, as it was 4-3 on a quick give and go at centre ice saw Nicholas Poisson take a return pass from Evan Orr and fight past a defender down the left wing and in on net where he just got enough of it off the left toe of Glassford to squeak it over the line to make it 4-3 at 5:25 of the third. The Bulldogs for the better of the period couldn't get any sustained attack going to generate the equalizer. They earned a power play with under eight minutes to play when Mitchel Deelstra danced in alone through the defence and was hooked off the puck. Seconds into the power play, Dawson Tritt was tripped up with the puck behind the Spruce Kings net and slid hard into the end boards face first, but no arms went up. Instead of a long 5 on 3, it was 4-aside hockey seconds later when Tim Gould was called for an open ice check. The Bulldogs killed off the short Prince George opportunity to keep it a one-goal game, before earning a power play of their own with under two minutes to play. They would generate a couple great chances, including right at the buzzer but Jett Alexander stood tall to protect the lead right to the final second for the 4-3 final score.
Shots in the third were 10-9 Prince George, for a game total of 41-33 Spruce Kings. Jackson Glassford took the loss while earning 3rd star honours while Jett Alexander earned the win. The Bulldogs went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Spruce Kings went 1 for 4.
The Bulldogs are next in action Saturday night in Duncan.
Hammer
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