Here's the highlights! Enjoy!
Hammer
The Bulldogs looked everything like a team with half of their roster out of the lineup early in the game, as the Capitals had all the pressure and the Bulldogs chased the game. Luke Pearson was very sharp, as the Capitals ran up a 10-1 edge in shots but couldn't find the net. The Bulldogs started to settle in, and drew a penalty just short of the middle of the period. They would capitalize on it. as Jimmy Rayhill carried the puck from the Bulldogs zone all the way into the left corner in Capitals territory. He would then end-board bank it to the right corner for Austin Spiridakis, who put a quick pass to a wide-open Dawson Tritt in front, where he went to his backhand and lifted it over the glove of Zach Borgeil to make it 1-0 at 10:31 of the first. The Capitals pushed back through the back portion of the period, but the Bulldogs held on with Pearson again being solid to protect the lead. They would draw another penalty late in the period, and again made it count as Caige Sterzer found Isaac Pascoal on the right wing wall. He put a perfect saucer pass to the top of the point for Moe Acee, who blew a slapper top corner past the blocker of Borgeil to make it 2-0 at 19:35 of the first. Shots after 20 minutes were 18-12 Capitals.
The Capitals again put a push on to start the second, helped out by a 52 second 5 on 3 power play but the Bulldogs again held on with Luke Pearson making three or four big saves to keep it 2-0, with his defenders also doing a fantastic job of blocking shots and clearing loose puck around the net. The Bulldogs earned a power play later in the period, and had several glorious chances around the net, but couldn't convert on them with Zach Borgiel also coming up with some big saves on scrambles to keep it a two-goal game. Neither team would find the net before the buzzer, with the shots in the period being 17-6 Capitals, for a 35-18 total in their favour after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs controlled the play early in the third period, winning the battles and getting pucks both in and out. The Capitals pressed just over four minutes into the period, and kept it up for a crazy five to seven minute stretch where Luke Pearson was so ridiculous he almost defies description, coming up with save after save in every way imaginable to protect the lead. The Capitals would keep pushing, and made it a 2-1 game at 10:07 of the third as Dimitri Mikrogiannakis drove end to end up the right wing and one-handed it to the crease where Pearson made the initial save but John Lundy poked the rebound through Pearson and over the line. Dan McIntyre also drew an assist on the play. The Capitals pressed for the equalizer, but Pearson continued to play fantastic, at one point making a desperation save while losing his helmet on the goal line. The Capitals would be penalized for goalie interference late in the period, as Tanner Sidaway attempted to split the defence and carried into Pearson while attempting to keep his balance. It looked worse live than the replay showed, but a five minute major was called. The Bulldogs for the most part didn't look good on the advantage, fighting the puck and not being able to generate any offence. They would then be penalized with 30 plus seconds to go in the major and just under two minutes to play. The Capitals would call timeout and pulled Borgiel for the extra attacker, to make it a 5 on 4, followed by a 6 on 4 advantage at the conclusion of the major penalty. They would have their chances to tie it, including hitting the crossbar with under 10 seconds to play, but the Bulldogs defended their net and Pearson made two more good saves at the buzzer to make the lead stand.
Third period shots were 20-10 Capitals, for a game total in their favour of 55-28. Luke Pearson earned 1st star honours with the win, while Zach Borgiel took the loss. The Bulldogs went 2 for 4 on the power play, while the Capitals went 0 for 5.
With the win, the Bulldogs snap a four game losing streak. They conclude their regular season tomorrow when they host the Nanaimo Clippers at 2:00pm.
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