The game didn't even start before some fireworks from the previous contest carried over, as Ethan Schmunk and River Fahey got involved in warm-up at the red line drawing about a response from the Officials. Once the game started, it was a pleasure to watch, with few whistles and end-to-end hockey through the first five to six minutes of play. The Bulldogs had the best early chance, when Jacob Bosse hit the bar, and Derek Krall made a glove save on a Jackson Doucet rebound attempt. The Bulldogs failed to generate much on a power play that followed, with the Kings picking up the pace in the ensuing minutes and earning several glorious opportunities from them that saw Carlos Siso come up big on a trio of instances to keep it scoreless. The Kings kept pressing, and the Bulldogs didn't adjust, and a final odd-man rush was one too many, as Siso made the first save on Jacob Badal, but couldn't get any help on the rebound as Devin Leduc beat his man to the net to just slide it home to make it 1-0 at 18:35 of the first. Shots in the period were 13-8 Kings.
The second period saw the Kings begin it with a 1:35 on the power play, but the Bulldogs killed it off without giving up much. The period was somewhat flat through the following minutes, but the Bulldogs started to press and finally got a break to tie the game just over eight minutes in when Jacob Bosse collected the puck behind the net and walked out up the right wing where he threw it at the crease where it deflected off of something and in - perhaps a defender, perhaps Caige Sterzer to make it 1-1 at 8:35, un-assisted. Seconds later, the Bulldogs were penalized and seconds into the power play it was 2-1 Kings, as Carlos Siso made the first save on a Jack Long one-timer from the right circle, only to be unable to fight through contact in the crease to get to the rebound, as Ethan Schmunk fought it home at 9:21 of the second, with Jacob Badal also drawing an assist. Shots in the period were 9-4 Bulldogs, for a 17-17 total after 40 minutes.
The third period began with the Bulldogs being sent to the penalty box.....over and over and over. They successfully killed off three Kings advantages to maintain the one-goal deficit. Time wore on into the late stages of the third, with the Bulldogs finally earning a power play of their own with five minutes to play. They couldn't make it count, but manufactured some desperation and momentum from it that led to further time in the attacking zone. That would end up in another power play opportunity with just under two minutes to play in regulation. They would make it count, with Jackson Munro setting up Ryan Doolin in the left faceoff dot. He simply just put it low and hard and on net, where Derek Krall made the save, but couldn't control the rebound as it went off the leg of Craig Sterzer and in to make it 2-2 at 19:26 of the third. Shots in the third were 14-9 Kings, for a 60 minute total in their favour of 31-26.
The Kings had the first possession in overtime, but dumped the puck in. The Bulldogs won the battle, and attacked before regrouping and being whistled for icing. Carlos Siso would make a stick save off the following draw, before the Bulldogs went up ice and attacked, with a long battle on the end wall seeing Jackson Doucet and Jackson Munro refuse to lose the puck before Munro snuck loose back of the net. He walked out the right side before putting a pass to the deep slot on the tape of Tommy Bannister, who walked in and buried a quick release five-hole on Krall for the game winner and the 3-2 final at 1:43 of overtime.
Shots were reported as either 5-1 Bulldogs, or 1-0 Bulldogs in overtime - the official box score shows 1-0 Bulldogs, for a final total of 31-27 Kings with Carlos Siso earning the win while Derek Krall earned 2nd star honours with the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Kings went 1 for 7.
With the win, the Bulldogs snap a six game losing streak. They next see action Friday night in Trail when they visit the Smoke Eaters.
Hammer
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