Express top Dogs 6-2, Dogs host Rivermen Saturday night, Midget Dogs win tournament opener 5-0

The above picture seems fitting to sum up the way the Dogs night went Friday at the Pound as they lost 6-2 to the Express. A season high crowd didn't have much to cheer about, as while the Dogs out shot the Express 44-29 they failed to generate the same quality of chances as Coquitlam, and they certainly didn't capitalize on their opportunities when they got them as the Express had several highlight reel finishes.

After a scoreless first frame with both goalies looking sharp Malcolm McKinney scored one of the aforementioned highlight reel goals to make it 1-0 three minutes into the second as he chased down a loose puck in the slot in the Dogs zone and made a nice move to avoid a defender before going top corner far side on Matt Larose. The Express had a glorious chance to go up 2-0 just two minutes later as John Siemer was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway but he failed on the chance as he deked himself off the puck and lost control. They would eventually take the 2-0 lead when they scored in the final minute of the second as a wide-open Mitchell Fyffe hammered a one-timer home from the crease. An insurance marker made it 3-0 six minutes into the third when Rajan Sidhu scored on a power play point shot an the cushion became four goals two minutes later on another highlight reel goal, this one from Taylor Bourne as he raced down the right wing before splitting the defence up the middle at the Dogs line before ripping a shot far side off the post and in. 

Credit to the Dogs as it would have been easy at this point to pack it in, but they kept on pushing. They were finally rewarded when Brandon Adams drove the net with speed down the right wing before throwing one on net from a sharp angle that found its way through Huggins to make it 4-1 with seven to play. Just two minutes later it was a two-goal game as Arty Kalashnikov won a power play faceoff in the Express end to Brandon Adams who made a one-touch pass to Mike Puddifant at the right point. Puddifant wasted no time, throwing a quick shot on net that had eyes and was perfectly placed top corner glove side to make it 4-2 with five and a half to go in regulation. The Express would silence the point and kill the comeback with their second power play goal of the game a minute and a half later to make it 5-2 when Taylor Bourne scored his second of the game banking one in from a sharp angle. One more highlight reel goal punctuated the win when John Siemer went coast to coast off a draw in the Coquitlam end before tucking home a breakaway with two seconds on the clock for the 6-2 final. 

Shots:

44-29 Bulldogs

Power Plays:

Dogs 1 for 3

Express 2 for 5

Stars:

3rd Rajan Sidhu

2nd Brandon Adams

1st Malcolm McKinney

The Dogs have little time to think about last night as they are right back at it tonight as the Langley Rivermen make their first franchise visit to the Dog Pound. Its the third meeting this season between the teams with Langley winning the first meeting 7-1 and the Dogs answering with a 7-1 win of their own 12 days later. The Rivermen were also in action last night as they lost 5-3 to the Chiefs in Chilliwack, the team that last year called Langley home - except for the other part of the team that was in Quesnel, haha.


Catch the pregame show with Ace and myself at 6:45 on 93.3 The Peak FM, with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00.

Our 2nd Intermission feature guest is former Bulldog Marcello Ranallo, now a Senior at U-Conn

The Dogs will get Trent Dorais and Paul Esdale back after they finished serving their suspensions.

Last but not least, don't forget to get to the Multiplex tomorrow to support the Van Isle Ford Midget Bulldogs in their tournament. They opened yesterday with a 5-0 win over Vancouver 2, and see action at 8:55am and 3:05pm today as they take on Kerry Park and Surrey respectively. Check out the full sked and results on the tournament site here

See you at the Pound!

Hammer