Tonight's Game Report is brought to you courtesy of the Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Barclay Hotel, the largest full facility hotel in Port Alberni, BC. When staying with us there is no need to give up conveniences you are used to. You can discover treasures to take home at the Alberni Harbour Quay, and then browse our onsite Cold Beer, Wine Store and liquor store or retreat to our Stamps Cafe or Pastimes Sports Bar and Grill to enjoy a snack or to watch the game on our big screen TV. Then, relax in our sauna or pool before settling in our luxurious accommodations to enjoy the vintage wine picked up earlier. That's when you will truly understand why the tranquil setting of our hotel has been called the perfect place to call home. If traveling on business, our Port Alberni Hotel boasts over 4500 square feet of meeting space in four rooms that are perfect for small conventions, banquets, parties, meetings and weddings. AV equipment and catering are also available.
Please accept my apologies for the lack of a final score picture from the scoreboard. They don't turn off the clock faster anywhere in the BCHL than they do at the Hap!
The game had a fairly energetic start, and didn't look like a post-Christmas break game as the pace was high through the first 10 minutes. Carter Turnbull had the best chance early, as he walked into the high slot off a turnover and ripped a shot off the crossbar. The Bulldogs answered with a solid opportunity of their own soon afterwards as Jordan Sandhu picked up a cross-ice pass on the rush and walked in tight down the left wing only to have Jeff Smith get a piece of it with his glove to keep it out. The Kings would take a 1-0 lead late in the period after a series of turnovers and failures to get the puck in deep at the Kings line ended up seeing the Dogs run around and the puck end up in the back of their net as Carter Turnbull made a pretty pass from the top of the slot to Johnny Evans at the back door where he potted a one-timer that Carson Schamerhorn had no chance on. Jack Long also drew an assist on the play at 16:09 of the first. Shots favoured the Kings 10-8 after 20 minutes.
The second period was again played at a high pace, with little in the way of mistakes made by either side through the midway point of the period. Each team had an opportunity or two, but no glaring chances as it remained 1-0 Kings. The Dogs would crack the deadlock on a broken play at centre that was followed up by Paul Meyer, who skated up the right wing and over the Kings line into the top of the circle where he beat Smith with a quick release just inside the far post, blocker side to tie it at 1-1. Assists on the play went to Chris Schutz and Jordan Sandhu at 12:15 of the second for a 1-1 tie after 40 minutes. The Bulldogs out shot the Kings 8-4 in the period, leading the shots 16-14 after two periods.
The third period through the first 10 minutes was again similar to the first two frames as it was fun hockey to watch but there wasn't much in the way of glaring scoring chances. The Kings had a good chance early when Tristan Mullin walked into the deep slot and rang a shot off the crossbar. The Bulldogs penalty killers stood tall, killing off a minor penalty to start the period, and another one soon afterwards to keep it 1-1. They would then be handed two more penalties in the final minutes of the game, but once again the penalty killers stood tall to keep it tied. A fantastic short handed chance late in regulation saw Jeff Smith come up big to rob Jordan Sandhu on a cross-ice 2 on 1 set up by Quinn Syrydiuk. A late hit on Sandhu drew no call while Syrydiuk retaliated to defend him, only to end up in the box with the Dogs killers forced to protect the tie again to secure a single point to force overtime. Shots in the third favoured the Bulldogs 9-4 for a 60 minute total of 25-18.
The Dogs looked to dodge a considerable bullet early in overtime when a defender fell down and threw his stick - only to have the Referees not make a call on the play. The Kings would win it soon afterwards however as the Kings turned up ice and caught the Dogs in deep and flat footed as quick transition led to a breakaway to Rylan Ball who joined the rush and skated in alone where he put a backhand home past Schamerhorn for the 2-1 final at 3:11 of overtime, with assists going to Tristan Mullin and Chad Betts.
Shots favoured the Dogs 26-20 with Carson Schamerhorn and Jeff Smith being the goalies of record. The Dogs went 0 for 2 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 5.
With the single point earned the Dogs are now just two back of the Grizzlies for fourth place, with two games in hand. The teams meet again tomorrow night in Powell River, a 5pm puck drop.
Hammer
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