Bulldogs 5, Kings 4, Dogs lead series 2-1

What a crazy game, as the Dogs surged ahead but the Kings seemed to always have an answer. That is, until the Dogs went up 5-4 with six minutes left, a lead that they made stand to take a 2-1 series lead.



The Bulldogs took the lead for the second time in two games when David Dziurzynski made a great cross ice pass through traffic to Mark MacMillan who fired it into the open side for a power play marker and a 1-0 lead after one.



The Kings tied it up just over a minute into the second on a power play goal of their own as Daniel Carr scored his fourth goal of the series in just the second period of game 3, banging a loose puck past Frank Slubowski. The Dogs answered back less than a minute later with their second power play goal of the game when Dziurzynski walked off the right wing wall and snapped one short side on Josh Watson to make it 2-1. Again the Kings tied it with Daniel Carr getting his second of the game on a great pass from Mat Bodie to make it 2-2 as he beat Slubowski who was trying to get over.



The Dogs took their third lead of the game at 3-2 when Dziurzynski scored his second of the game (and the first even strength goal of the game) as he just plain never gave up on a puck in the slot, spinning and firing one far side inside the post. Just 19 seconds later the only other 5 on 5 goal of the game was scored by the Dogs as Ryan Renz put it ahead for Tye Lewis up the right wing where he and Johnny Rogic raced away on a 2 on 1 rush. Lewis would put an absolute perfect pass to a flying Rogic who tipped it into the open side for a 4-2 Dogs lead after 2.


The Kings made it 4-3 before the third was 30 seconds old on another power play goal as Mat Bodie made a great pass to Carr at the side of the net where he one-timed it through a sliding Slubowski to make it 4-3. Another penalty, and yet another Powell River power play goal tied it at 4-4 when Jordan Grant ripped one upstairs on a nice pass by Chad Niddery from behind the goal line.



The Dogs found the winner on a battle in front of the Kings net for their third power play goal of the game with just under six minutes to play when Mitch MacMillan somehow found a way to bang it home. Rick and I thought that Mitch scored it, but the goal was given to Dziurzynski. In talking to the guys after the game, it was indeed Mitch's goal.




I asked Dizzy (sorry getting tired of typing Dziurzynski so much) how his empty net chance didn't go in. Rick and I thought that the King defender made a great play to knock it out of mid air.....but Dizzy swears it was in, and so does Mark MacMillan. That goal was lost in the fray of Mat Bodie and Matt Hatch fighting behind the play.


In the end it's a 5-4 Dogs win, and a 2-1 series lead. Credit to the guys for how hard they battled tonight. Some pretty gutsy efforts by lots of guys. Some good composure shown for the most part as well. It's easy to have emotions get the better of you but especially when it counted with six minutes left, the Dogs made the lead stand.


What's up with the power plays? The Dogs had the second best PK in the league in the regular season, and the Kings had the fourth best. Without the power play goals this series would be low scoring. The Kings have only had ONE five on five goal in the series, that being the OT winner in game one. They scored all four on the PP tonight, three on the PP in game one, and two on the PP in game 2. So they haven't scored a 5 on 5 goal in two games. The Dogs had 2 even strength goals in game 2, and 2 more tonight.


Oh well, the fans playing the Safeway Bulldog Power Play contest love it!


I'm not sure the coaches, defenceman, and goalies are too fond of it though.


Time for bed, should be another fun one for Game 4 tomorrow!


Hammer