The Bulldogs got off to a good start, with several instances of pressure in the Capitals zone early, but they couldn't generate anything dangerous on net. A minute later, the Capitals opened the scoring on a shot from the left point by Tyrell Boucher that was deflected off the post, far-side and in by Zach Brooks to make it 1-0 Capitals at 3:01 of the first with Olivier Gauthier also drawing an assist on the play. The Capitals would draw a penalty on a big open-ice check by Jackson Munro later in the period, but it was the Bulldogs that scored while shorthanded to tie it at 1-1 as Jimmy Rayhill found a Matthew Grouchy face off win in the Bulldog zone and slid it up the right side for Matthew Grouchy, who made a perfect cross-ice pass for Mitchel Deelstra to skate in alone on Zach Borgiel where he picked the top corner, far-side to make it 1-1 at 9:52 of the first. The Bulldogs had a couple good chances to take the lead in the following minutes, including a penalty shot for Jackson Doucet after he was hooked on a breakaway. Zach Borgiel would shut the door on it though, to keep it tied. Less than a minute later it was 2-1 on an odd one as Cole Broadhurst fed Tyrell Boucher at the left point, where he put a one-timer at the goal that appeared to be missing the target short-side where it went off the blocker of Glassford and skyward where it arced perfectly off his back and in to make it 2-1 Capitals at 14:57 of the first, with Dimitri Mikrogiannakis also drawing an assist. The Capitals added one more with three minutes to play in the period, on a stretch-pass resulting in a breakaway for Tanner Sidaway that stayed out, but Sidaway kept the puck and walked below the goal line where he put a pass to the slot that Brady Lynn found and beat Glassford with a quick release, blocker side to make it 3-1 at 17:01 of the first. Shots in the period were even at 16-16.
The Bulldogs had a passionate start to the second, with a couple dangerous chances around the Capitals net, but they couldn't convert on one to get back into the game as it stayed 3-1 through the midway point of the period, with the Bulldogs outshooting the Capitals 9-3 at the media time out. A minute and change later, another odd one found it's way into the Bulldog net, as a rink-wide pass through the slot missed everyone, before another set up to the slot failed to connect yet still hit something and bounced in past the left toe of Luke Pearson (who came on to start the second) to make it 4-1 at 12:06 of the period, Matthew Crasa and Luc Wilson drawing the assists. The Bulldogs didn't show any signs of deflating, but continued to be snakebitten around the Capitals net. The finally found a way to back into the game in the final minute of the period, as Matthew Grouchy threw a thunderous check on Austin Chorney in the left corner of the Caps zone before finding the puck and putting a perfect pass onto the tape of Mitchel Deelstra in the left circle where he put a one-timer high far-side over the glove of Borgiel to make it 4-2 at 19:17 of the second. Shots in the period were 14-7 Bulldogs, for a 30-23 total in their favour heading into the third.
The third period saw the Bulldogs again come out with some desperation, and it would result in a power play opportunity. They would make good on it to make it a whole new game, as Jackson Doucet set up Mattias Dal Monte at the top of the point from the left wing wall. He would put a perfect pass onto the tape of Tim Gould at the top of the right circle, where he blew a one-timer on goal where it hit either a defender's stick, or Borgiel's and went skyward before bouncing over the line to make it 4-3 at 3:08 of the third. The Capitals would push back, and have several long stretches in the attacking zone with several good chances, but Luke Pearson was sharp to keep it a one-goal game. The Bulldogs would tie it just after the midway point of the period when Grayson Valente made a perfect stretch pass up the middle to Tommy Bannister, who walked over the line to the slot and put a low shot on net that was stopped by Borgiel, but he gave up a big rebound cross-ice that Stephen Castagna one-timed home to make it 4-4 at 10:02 of the third. The Capitals would again push back, and had a couple great chances to tie it, but Pearson was fantastic, most notably on an in-alone net drive by Dimitri Mikrogiannakis to keep it tied. Zach Borgiel was equally huge with just over two minutes left, as he made a highlight reel diving save across the crease with his paddle to rob Matthew Grouchy to force overtime. Third period shots were 17-9 Capitals for a 40-39 edge into overtime.
The Bulldogs had the better of the play in overtime, with Borgiel stopping Mitchel Deelstra in alone seven seconds in. Josh Zary would dance in alone later in overtime on a faceoff win and get hauled down, but couldn't draw a penalty. A minute later, the Bulldogs won it as Jackson Munro threw a hit on Matthew Crasa to knock him off the puck. Matthew Grouchy would collect it and race up ice down the right side before putting a perfect cross-ice feed onto the tape of Jackson Munro, who put it off the post and in short-side for the game winner at 2:35 of overtime for the 5-4 final.
4-1 in overtime, for a game total of 43-41 Bulldogs. Luke Pearson earned the win in relief, while Zach Borgiel took the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 1 on the power play, and also scored once shorthanded while the Capitals went 0 for 2.
The Bulldogs are next in action Friday when they host the Grizzlies.
Hammer
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