The Dogs got off to a solid start, drawing the first penalty and taking an early 5-0 advantage in shots just five minutes into the game. The Vees would get a great chance on a breakaway on their first shot of the game but Brad Rebagliati made a great save while losing his helmet in the process. The Dogs parlayed the solid start into a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes in as Darian Henry threw the puck into the Vees zone where it was chased down by Hunter Stewart. He would find Justin Georgeson, who set up Craig Martin in the slot where he snapped one top corner, far side over the blocker of Miska to make it 1-0 Dogs at 7:02 of the first. The Dogs would protect the lead by killing off a Vees power play, but shortly afterwards it was 1-1 as a defenceman got caught deep while Harlan Orr got taken down away from the play resulting in the Vees racing up ice on a 2 on 1 rush where Brad McClure kept the puck and went top corner, short-side on Brad Rebagliati. Riley Alferd and Hunter Miska picked up the assists at 11:39 of the first. Just 3:10 later it was 2-1 Vees as a Christopher Rygus point shot appeared to change direction off traffic in the slot before finding it's way past Rebagliati. Brett Beauvais picked up the only assist on the play at 14:49 of the first. The lead was 3-1 less than two minutes later when a turnover in the slot was put right onto the tape of Matthew Serratore, who was stopped by Rebagliati. The rebound was found at the open side by Travis Blanleil who fired it home before Rebagliati could get over at 16:12 of the first. One more before the frame was out made it 4-1 as Cody DePourcq pounced on a rebound at the side of the net after the first save was made by Rebagliati on a loose puck from a faceoff in the Dogs end. Blanleil picked up the only assist at 17:59 of the first for a 4-1 Vees lead after one, with a 17-12 Vees advantage in shots.
There would be no scoring in the second period, with the Bulldogs settling down a bit and playing better positionally and defensively. They had several great opportunities later in the period on the power play to trim the deficit, but Hunter Miska came up with several solid saves. The Dogs outshot the Vees 9-4 in the second for a two period total of 21 a side.
The Dogs needed a big third and a great start to it if they hoped to dig out of the hole, but it was the Vees instead who came out hard to snuff out any hopes of a Bulldog comeback with two quick markers on breakdowns early in the frame to remove all doubt. Just 2:47 in it was 5-1 Vees on a pretty three-way passing play on the power play finished off by Ben Dalpe, with assists going to Brad McClure and Ryan Gropp. Less than a minute later it was 6-1 when Cody DePourcq stole the puck behind the Dogs net and fed it out to the top of the crease for Matthew Serratore who snapped it by Howat at 3:31. The Dogs would add one to make it a 6-2 game on the rush four minutes later as Mak Barden drove the net and found a rebound off a Josh Adkins shot that was set up by Zak Bowles at 7:55 of the third but that's as close as the Dogs would get.
Final shots favoured the Vees 30-27 with Brad Rebagliati taking the loss playing the first 20 minutes before Tyger Howat came on in relief to start the second. I had the Dogs at 0 for 4 on the power play while the Vees went 1 for 3.
The Dogs are on the road already bound for Abbotsford where they will bed down for the night before traveling to Langley tomorrow to take on the Rivermen for a 2pm puck drop.
Hammer
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