Dogs win second in a row, 3-0 over Capitals

The Bulldogs got off to one of their best starts of the season, generating a handful of Grade A scoring chances both on the rush and in the Offensive zone. Robin Gusse came up with several solid stops early, but the Dogs persisted and found the net on a nice play on the rush as Mak Barden banked it over the line for Tryg Strand, who dropped it for Mitch Makin who walked into the left circle and ripped one top corner, far side, over the glove to Gusse to make it 1-0 at the 8:39 mark. Gusse again came up big to rob Craig Martin on an in-alone chance to keep it a one-goal game but the Dogs would build the lead shortly afterwards when Tryg Strand battled the puck through centre and over the Caps line for Mak Barden. He would find Garrett Halls at the right point, where he put a wrist shot on goal through traffic that was tipped home by Justin Georgeson, making it 2-0 at the 10:57 mark of the first. The Dogs would control the better of the play, but the Caps still had several good scoring chances as Connor LaCouvee was good when he had to be, with the Dogs up in the shots 19-11 after one period.

The Capitals came out inspired in the second period and while they had the Dogs running around early, they weren't able to generate many scoring chances. The Dogs would again have several chances turned away by Gusse, most notably when he dove back into the crease to rob Zach Funk on a an open net while the Dogs were shorthanded. The Dogs would kill off a penalty and then find the net in short order as Harlan Orr flipped the puck to Justin Georgeson at centre ice, where he sent Craig Martin over the line. He would fight through the defence and throw a shot on goal that appeared to deflect off a Capital defenders stick and fool Gusse, top corner, short-side at 9:21 of the second to make it 3-0. The Dogs went to a power play chance of their own right after the goal, and despite several outstanding scoring chances including a post, they couldn't build the lead. The Capitals would fight back and control the better part of the play late in the period, hemming the Dogs in their zone. LaCouvee was again solid to protect the lead, making an rediculous save on a rebound at the side of the net on Rylan Bechtel to keep it 3-0 Dogs after two periods, with the Dogs up in the shots 31-22.

There would be no scoring in the third period, with the Dogs playing one of their most complete periods of the season, not giving up much defensively while still generating a handful of good chances. While they didn't find the net through the third period, the Dogs dictated the play and the Caps weren't able to get a sustained attack going.

Final shots favoured the Dogs 50-31 with Connor LaCouvee picking up 1st star honours with the win and the shut out (the first for the Dogs as a team, and for LaCouvee this season) while Robin Gusse took the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Capitals went 0 for 1.

These teams meet again Friday night in Duncan, with the Caps first seeing action Wednesday night at home against Nanaimo.