Dogs stretch points streak to four with 2-1 overtime win over Clippers

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.

A fairly slow and sloppy start to the game, with neither side looking especially sharp. The Clippers were awarded an early power play, but the Dogs killed it off without allowing a shot. The period remained somewhat flat until the midway point of the first, but the Clippers all of a sudden had three fantastic back to back chances as Brody Claeys was rock solid in robbing Matt Creamer with his glove on a wide-open one-timer from the slot. The Dogs would push back when they earned their first power play of the game, but despite some crisp puck movement they couldn't generate a Grade A chance on net. The Clippers had another solid chance with two minutes and change to go in the first on a scramble in tight immediately after a faceoff win in the Dogs end, but Claeys got his right toe out in desperation to rob Adam Donnelly on a scramble. The Dogs had a good attacking zone foray in the final minute of the period, but again couldn't find the net as the period ended 0-0. Shots favoured Nanaimo 9-8.

The second period continued to play out somewhat like the first, with neither team controlling the better of the play or generating much in the way of shots. The Dogs had a solid chance on a 3 on 2 created by Trevor Cosgrove pushing the pace and working a give and go in tight, but the shot was blocked in the slot. The Clippers would go up ice and simply get the puck to the net to open the scoring, as Adam Pilotte kept the puck in at the right point, before going D-to-D across the line to Taylor Karel. He would put a waist-high shot at the net, that was deflected in over the shoulder of Brody Claeys by Jake Harris at 9:03 of the second. The Bulldogs would generate a couple good looks through the back half of the period, most notably on the rush, but they couldn't cash in as it stayed 1-0 Clippers through 40 minutes. Shots in the period were 11-7 Nanaimo for a 20-15 Clippers advantage after two periods.

The Bulldogs would push hard early in the third, and after a couple opportunities around the Nanaimo net finally capitalized as Darren Rizzolo fired a shot at the net from the left point. It was deflected on goal by Trevor Cosgrove and initially stopped, but Tristan Bukovec out fought a Clipper defender at the side of the net to throw it to the top of the crease where Jordan Sandhu slid it home to tie it at 1-1 at 2:53 of the third. The Bulldogs would be penalized immediately afterwards, but again came up with a solid kill to keep it tied. A Bulldog power play soon afterwards was threatening, with some great looks and four shots on net, but they couldn't capitalize. The late moments of the third saw the Bulldogs have some great chances to win it, with Jordan Sandhu creating a great chance in the final two minutes, followed by a mad scramble at the Nanaimo net in the final 30 seconds that saw several bounces somehow stay out. Third period shots favoured the Dogs 9-8 for a 60 minute advantage of 28-24 Clippers.

Overtime wouldn't last long, with the Dogs having possession early, but the Clippers having an odd-man rush that saw Cayden Kraus just backcheck enough to force a shot high and wide. It would rim out of the far corner and up the left wing for Jake Witkowski who pushed the pace and created a 2 on 1 rush where he made a fantastic pass onto the tape of Mackenzie Wight who skated in alone and faked forehand before tucking it across the crease on the backhand for the game winner just 37 seconds into overtime.

Final shots favoured Nanaimo 28-25 with Brody Claeys picking up the win while Evan DeBrouwer taking the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 2 on the power play while the Clippers went 0 for 4.

The Dogs are next in action Friday night in Trail for a 7:30 start.

Hammer