The Bulldogs had two good looking offensive rushes in the opening seconds of the game, but they couldn't bury them. Seconds later, they were in a 1-0 hole as a Victoria net drive off a rush was stopped by Luke Pearson, who also appeared to get a pad on a rebound chance in tight. The scramble continued, and a cross-crease pass was one-timed home inside the far post by Marty Westhaver, with assists on the play to Cody Monds and Alex DiPaolo at 51 seconds of the first. The Bulldogs pushed back, and responded on the power play to tie the game just short of six minutes in when Ryan Doolin accepted a Dawson Tritt pass and simply just threw the puck at the net. It would bounce off a skate, and right onto the tape of Mitchel Deelstra, who made no mistake finishing it into the open net behind Blake Wood at 5:54 of the first. The Grizzlies would have two power play chances throughout the remainder of the period, but the Bulldogs successfully kill them to preserve the 1-1 tie into period two. Shots in the first were 9-6 Grizzlies.
The second period for the most part was played somewhat sloppily by both sides, with Luke Pearson and Blake Wood keeping it tied 1-1 into the late stages of the period with each making a handful of big saves, with Pearson's most notable ones coming off a 2 on 1 for Marty Westhaver, and a follow up chance on a Bulldog turnover to the slot that saw Pearson make a fantastic glove save and blocker stop on the rebound. The Bulldogs were unable to respond, and the Grizzlies took the lead later in the period on an odd-man rush that saw Jake Veilleux skate into a drop pass and walk to the deep slot where he put a perfect finish long-side past the blocker of Pearson. Assists on the play went to Alex DiPaolo and Chace Oliver at 16:37 of the second. The Bulldogs earned a power play late in the period, but couldn't cash in on it before the buzzer, carrying over a minute of power play time to start the third. Shots in the second were even at 12-12, with the Grizzlies leading 21-18 after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs were unable to make anything happen on the power play, but in the following minutes had a series of chances both on the rush and on scrambles around Wood, but couldn't find the equalizer. Shortly afterwards a long delay occurred when a chunk of vertical padding at the Bulldog bench became separated from the glass. After a rink attendant eventually arrived and re-affixed it, it was a matter of seconds before the Grizzlies went up 3-1 on a rush out of their own end that saw Chase McInnis find Brendan Bowie over the Bulldog line up the right wing where he went rink-wide onto the tape of a wide open Andrew Amousse who walked in alone and beat Luke Pearson high blocker side at 4:40 of the third. A few minutes later there were considerable fireworks as a net drive by the Grizzlies saw Henri Schreifels run a defender with a hit from behind into Luke Pearson, who lost his helmet and glove in being driven defenceless backwards into the post and crossbar as the net became dislodged. After remaining down a considerable period, he would remain in the game and Schreifels received a five minute major for goalie interference. The Bulldogs squandered the early minutes of the power play, but eventually got within a goal on a cross-ice one-timer and deflection to make it 3-2 as Mitchel Deelstra put a perfect pass to the right point for Tim Gould, who blasted a one-timer on net that was deflected in by Dawson Tritt at 9:57 of the third. The Bulldogs were unable to make good on the remaining two minutes as the Grizzlies held the lead into the latter stages of the third period when they picked up a critical insurance marker off a faceoff in the Dogs end following a big save by Luke Pearson on an in-alone Chace Oliver. A broken play would see Cody Monds put the puck towards the net where it hit something and went cross-ice to the near post where Alex DiPaolo slid it home to make it 4-2 at 16:06 of the third. To their credit, the Bulldogs didn't quit, with again the simplest of plays being the most effective as Caige Sterzer won a battle back to the right point for Grayson Valente. He would simply flip a wrist shot on goal that Ryan Doolin deflected before burying his own rebound to make it 4-3 at 18:53 of the third. The Bulldogs would get the extra attacker out in the final minute and would press, but couldn't generate a Grade A chance to find the equalizer as the Grizzlies held on to the buzzer.
Shots in the third were 12-9 Bulldogs, for a game total of 30-30, with Luke Pearson taking the loss while Blake Wood earned the win. The Bulldogs went 2 for 4 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 0 for 3.
The Bulldogs are next in action Wednesday night when they host the Merritt Centennials.
Hammer
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