UPDATED WITH HIGHLIGHTS Bulldogs comeback from 3-0 hole to top Merritt 4-3 in shoot out

The Bulldogs earned a power play just over a minute into the game, and while they threatened on it they couldn't get anything on goal to test Ryan Winter. Seconds later, they found themselves in a 1-0 hole as Hunor Torzsok accepted  a  pass - that looked very close to offside - behind the Bulldogs defence to skate in alone where he made good on the opportunity with a  shot  high-far side over the glove of Luke Pearson to make it 1-0 at 3:43 of the first, with assists going to Brophy Dunne and Joey Berkopec. The teams traded chances throughout the period, with both goalies being  good and Ryan Winter coming up with a notable highlight reel save going right to left to get a glove on an open net set up for Tommy Bannister. Luke Pearson would make a great save on a point blank set up a minute later, but the Centennials still padded their lead with under a  minute to play in the period when Daniel Tkac walked across the slot untouched and went against the grain inside the far post past the glove of Pearson to make it 2-0 at 19:07 of the first. The Bulldogs had two good chances to equalize before the period was out, but again couldn't beat Winter as the Centennials took the lead to the dressing room. Shots in the period were 18-13  Bulldogs.

The Centennials had a fantastic start to the second period, hemming the Bulldogs in their zone for the opening minute, with Luke Pearson making a couple saves to keep it 2-0. The Bulldogs countered on the rush and had a glorious chance to get on the board, but Ryan Winter made another highlight reel save to protect the lead on a 2 on 1 rush with a left toe save on a Stephen Castagna one-timer. Seconds later, it was 3-0 as Josh Kagan skated in alone on Luke Pearson who made the initial save, and a follow up rebound, but Kagan was allowed a third whack to knock it over the line as Pearson lost his helmet in the process at 3:03  of  the second. The Bulldogs  continued to chase the game for the majority of the period, with the Centennials running up a 10-1  edge in shots through the first six minutes. They came close to getting on the board when Moe Acee rang a shot off the post. Two Bulldog power play opportunities in the period were devoid of chances, and if anything lost momentum. A late period penalty kill showed some inspired effort and didn't give up much, but the Centennials came  incredibly close to building their lead  on back to back  instances in the final minute of  the period with Pearson coming up huge with a  breakaway save on Payton Matsui, and a left-toe save on a cross-crease set up for Christian Buono to keep it only 3-0 through two. Shots in the second were 16-8 Merritt, for a 29-26  Centennials advantage heading into the third. 

The Bulldogs began the third period with a power play, and while the first minute didn't generate much, it finally found the net with three seconds remaining as Ryan Doolin put the puck back to the left point for Grayson Valente, who just simply put a wrist shot at the net where Dawson Tritt deflected it home five hole to make it 3-1 at 1:57 of the third. The Centennials did well to push back against the momentum, but the Bulldogs were persistent, and made it a one-goal game just over eight minutes into the period off a defensive zone faceoff that Tim Gould poked ahead for Jackson Doucet. He flew up the left wing out of the Dogs zone, and banked it off the wall and danced around a defender to create a 2 on 1 where he walked into the faceoff circle and snapped a perfect shot top corner far-side over the glove of Winter to make it 3-2 at 8:00 of the third, with assists to Grayson Valente and Mitchel Deelstra. The Bulldogs continued to push, and potted the equalizer with under five minutes to play on a neutral zone turnover that saw Tommy Bannister find a full-flight Jacob Bosse up the left wing where he beat a defender wide before cutting across the crease to  tuck it home past Winter to make it 3-3 at 15:05 of the third, with Grayson Valente also drawing an assist. The Bulldogs earned a power play with just under two minutes to play, but the Centennials did a fantastic job to not give up much to force overtime and secure the single point. Third period shots were 20-13 Bulldogs, for a 60 minute total in their favour  of 46-42.

Overtime began with an eight-second Bulldog power play, and a  following two plus minutes of no whistles resulting in 4-on-4 hockey instead of the usual 3-on-3. The Centennials had the edge in chances, out-shooting the Bulldogs 5-2 with Luke Pearson being sharp to force the shootout, with final shots being 49-47 Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs went first in the shootout, with Ryan Winter stopping Ryan Doolin. Daniel Tkac went next for Merritt, but failed to get a shot  on net. Jacob Bosse went next for the Bulldogs, and came down the right wing and went high far-side over the blocker of Winter to give the Bulldogs  the advantage. Josh Kagan went next for Merritt, and hit the post. Mitchel Deelstra was stopped by Winter on a chance to win the game, with Christian Buono needing to score to keep the game alive, but he missed the target to seal the deal for the 4-3 final.

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