Another fantastic start for the Bulldogs, as they took a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game as Dylan Haugen took an outlet pass at centre and raced over the Capitals line down the right wing. Josh Adkins would catch up and find the puck off Haugen's stick, where he blasted a one-timer top corner, far-side past the blocker of Michasiw off the crossbar and in. Brett Stewart also picked up an assist on the play at the 1:14 mark of the first. The Dogs would go the power play just a minute later, and they connected to make it 2-0 as Scott Clark dished the puck from the right half boards back to the right point for Evan Tironese. He would move laterally and dish the puck back to the top of the point for Darian Henry who blew a one-time slap shot through the legs of Michasiw at the 3:41 mark, with the shots at the time 4-0 Bulldogs. The Capitals would get several opportunities immediately afterwards on a power play of their own, but Nathan Warren held the fort and came up with a great desperation rebound save to protect the lead. The Dogs built their lead late in the period when the line of Zak Bowles Zach Funk and Eric Margo was left on the ice for another chance after a great shift where they hemmed the Capitals in their zone for an extended period. The move paid off in mere seconds as Zach Funk won the draw to Zak Bowles on the left wing wall where he threw a quick cross-ice pass to the top of the point for Troy Dobbs, who threw an odd-speed wrister on goal that beat Michasiw low, far-side to make it 3-0 Dogs at the 17:37 of the first. Shots favoured the Dogs 11-7 after 20 minutes, although Dan Tisserand actually had them credited with 14.
The Capitals would come out inspired to start the second, while the Dogs looked a little bit like they were enjoying their lead. After consecutive good shifts the Caps were awarded a power play that they would connect on just seconds into the advantage when Kyle Horsman deflected a Skylar Pacheco point shot from the slot past Nathan Warren. Brayden Gelsinger also drew an assist on the play at 4:15 of the period. The Capitals would continue to push and were awarded two more power play opportunities. Instead of getting back into the game, the Bulldogs penalty kill came up big to protect the lead and take momentum right back. Chris Schutz would have a great chance on a breakaway, but Matthew Zentner - who entered the game in relief to start the second - came up with a big save to keep it 3-1. The Dogs would push and push and were finally rewarded at the end of a relentless shift in the attacking zone as Darian Henry threw a shot on net that was stopped by Zentner, but Josh Adkins fought off the defence to one-hand it home to make it 4-1. Mitch Makin also drew an assist on the play at 16:15 of the second. The Dogs would continue to push the pace and found the net again just under two minutes later when Evan Tironese kept the puck in twice before Garrett Halls then knocked it down at the left point and blew a slap shot past the blocker of Zentner to make it 5-1 from Tironese and Clark at 18:09. On the next shift the Dogs would draw a penalty, and less than a minute later drew another as Zak Bowles was high-sticked, resulting in the Dogs starting the third period on a two-man advantage for just over a minute in duration. The Dogs out shot the Caps 14-10 for a two period advantage of 26-17.
The Dogs made quick work of the 5 on 3 to start the third period, making it a 6-1 game when Chris Schutz retrieved the puck on the right wing and found Evan Tironese at the right point. In a play similar to the Dogs second goal of the night Tironese slid to the wall while Darian Henry slid to the middle where Tironese found him with a perfect pass that he absolutely demolished into the top corner past the glove of Zentner at :25 seconds of the third period. Just three minutes later it was a 7-1 lead as Eric Margo chopped a pass at centre ice to a speeding Zak Bowles who blew around the Capitals defence and in on the breakaway where he wristed one home at the 3:34 mark of the period. The game remained pretty much in control through the remainder of the period but things got testy late resulting in a 5 on 3 power play for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would put their fourth line out for the first half of the power play, not wanting to rub the Capitals nose in it. The back-half of the power play saw the Bulldogs put out their top line, but also 17 year old defenceman Josh Harvey. After Darian Henry narrowly missed the net on a hat trick bid Evan Tironese picked the puck up and dished it off to the top of the right circle for Josh Harvey who blasted a slap shot home through Zentner for his first career goal and the 8-1 final score from Tironese and Schutz at the 17:45 mark of the third period.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 39-25 with Nathan Warren picking up the win while Lane Michasiw took the loss. The Dogs went 3 for 7 on the power play while the Capitals went 1 for 6.
With the win the Dogs have now won four in a row for the first time this season, and for the second night in a row they scored a season high in goals with eight.
The Dogs return home to host the Prince George Spruce Kings tomorrow afternoon at the Dog Pound at 2pm.
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