Dogs top Warriors 5-1 for second consecutive win

It was a great start to the game for the Bulldogs, and hard for it not to feel like it was an exceptional start compared to Wednesday night as the Dogs weren't down by a couple of goals in the first couple of minutes of the game. The Bulldogs opened up a 1-0 lead after a series of good saves by Desautels when a faceoff win by Mitch Makin was ripped on net by Chris Schutz. Makin would go to the net and rip the rebound home five-hole to open the scoring at the 6:07 mark of the first, with Scottie Clark also drawing an assist on the play. The Warriors would have a great chance to equalize shortly afterwards, but Billy Christopoulos made a great right pad save on Brayden Gelsinger on a cross-ice pass on the rush. The Dogs took a 2-0 lead in the back half of the period when Scott Clark delayed and set up Chris Schutz in the slot. His one-timer was heeled into the corner, where Taylor Derynck jumped in from the line to find it. He would feed Mitch Makin below the goal line and then drive the slot where he took a return pass that he roofed top corner, far-side over the glove of Desautels for his first career goal at 13:21 of the first. Just 39 seconds later it was a 3-0 Dogs lead on a fantastic individual effort by Scottie Clark as he got hauled down in the corner but just jumped right back onto his feet and drove the net from below the goal line before pivoting to get on his forehand in tight where he jammed one through Desautels, with assists to Makin and Schutz at the 14:00 mark of the first for a 3-0 Dogs lead after one with the Dogs up 10-8 in the shots.

The Bulldogs started the second with three minutes of power play time, but they couldn't connect on it, coming close and hitting the post twice in quick succession. The Warriors would get a great chance to get into it in the first half of the period when the Bulldogs were penalized twice in a row, but Billy Christopoulos was rock solid in keeping the Warriors off the board with a series of saves over four minutes of penalty kill time. The Bulldogs would get another chance on the power play that they couldn't find the net on as the Warriors did a great job and blocked up to five shots to help out Desautels. Shortly afterwards the Dogs built their lead when Clark scored his second of the game, again on a hard and fast play in tight as Garrett Halls hustled to keep the puck in at the left point to get it deep for Mitch Makin in the left corner. He fed Clark below the goal line where he first had a centering attempt blocked but got it right back and carried it behind the net and scored on a wrap-around before Desautels could get over. Makin and Halls drew the assists as it was 4-0 Dogs at 15:06 of the second. The Dogs were out shot 12-6 over the period, for a 20-16 Warriors advantage after two. 

The third period had a high pace to it, but not much in the way of chances besides the Warriors again earning back-to-back power plays that the Bulldogs killed off to protect their four goal lead though the back half of the period. The Warriors would earn yet another power play with six minutes to play in the game. They would get aggressive and pull Desautels for a 6 on 4 situation, and they would connect on it as Jason Cotton converted on a cross-crease pass from the left side of the net putting off the post and in, far side. Assists on the play went to Liam Blackburn and Andrew Johnson at 14:25 of the third period. The Warriors had a great chance on the next shift, but Johnson couldn't convert on an open net as Christopoulos came over and got a pad on it to keep it out. The Warriors would continue to push with the goalie out but couldn't convert despite coming close as Liam Blackburn hit the crossbar after the Warriors won a draw in the Dogs end. The Dogs would erase all doubt when Eric Margo jumped off the bench and hit the empty net after finding a clear out of the zone by Chris Schutz to make it 5-1 at the 17:24 mark of the third for the eventual final score.

Final shots favoured the Warriors 36-21 with Billy Christopoulos picking up the win while Andy Desautels took the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 5 on the power play while the Warriors went 1 for 7.

The Dogs host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks tomorrow night to conclude their weekend.

Also don't forget that the 32nd Annual Alberni Inviational concludes tomorrow at ADSS:

The Alberni Invitational tournament action will start again Saturday January 24^th at 8:30 am with the exciting semi-finals in each weight division. Preliminaries continue until at about 11 am when placing matches begin. Finals are scheduled for 1-5 pm that Saturday and admission is free but space will be limited.

Hammer