Today'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.
The Bulldogs earned a power play in the first minute of the game, but couldn't cash in on it. They would take a 1-0 lead soon afterwards as they went end-to-end off a faceoff win in their zone by Ryan Steele. Keith Anderson would put a perfect rink wide outlet onto the tape of Henry Marshall, who flew up the left wing and over the Merritt line where he beat Colton Lancaster with a short-side slapper from the top of the left circle at 3:20 of the first. The Dogs kept up the pressure, taking a 2-0 lead four minutes later while shorthanded, as Jake Witkowski intercepted a pass in the Merritt zone and walked into the right circle where he scored on a perfectly placed shot, top corner, short-side high off the back bar at 7:47 of the period. The Dogs looked for more on the power play four minutes later, but it was instead the Centennials that answered while shorthanded as a pass from behind the goal line in the attacking zone failed to connect in the slot, and a defenceman stepped up at the line and missed, resulting in a breakaway. Brody Claeys would get a good piece of it, but it just trickled through his legs and over the line with Michael Regush scoring it, un-assisted and shorthanded at 11:50 of the first to make it 2-1. The Bulldogs would immediately respond with a huge goal, as Spencer Hunter forced a turnover with a big hit on the forecheck. Kyle Kaufmann would find the puck on the left wing wall and put a crisp centering pass onto the tape of Affiliate Player Stratton Pickett, who blasted a one-timer long side past the glove of Lancaster to make it 3-1 at 12:32 of the first as the Centennials made a goaltender change. The Dogs came close to taking a three goal lead at the buzzer while on the power play on a rebound in front, but Jacob Berger came up with a diving desperation glove save to keep it 3-1 Dogs after one, with the shots 12-11 Centennials.
The second period was played at breakneck pace, with not much in the way of whistles. The Dogs didn't capitalize early on a carry-over power play, and then came up with a solid penalty kill to protect their lead, with Brody Claeys making two good saves on Henry Cleghorn. The Dogs held their lead through the midway point of the period, but the Centennials continued to push and made it a one-goal game on the rush on a quick regroup in their zone and a head-man pass by Mike Faulker up the left wing for Zach Court. He would gain the line and drop it for Tyler Ward, who blasted a shot top corner, far-side over the glove of Claeys to make it 3-2 at 13:30 of the second. Less than two minutes later it was a tie game on a somewhat similar goal as the Cents pushed the pace and backed the Dogs into their zone, as Zach Risteau found Michael Regush up the right wing. He would in turn put a drop pass onto the tape of Zach Court, who walked in tight and beat Claeys with a wrist shot, far-side through his blocker arm to tie it at 3-3 at 15:59 of the period. The Dogs would be penalized a minute later for too-many-men, but came up with a critical kill to keep it tied, and came a post away from taking the lead when Nicholas Rasovic beat Berger but hit iron and it stayed out. Shots in the period favoured the Cents 12-7 for a 40 minute advantage of 24-18.
The Bulldogs would take their lead back just over five minutes into the third, as Cameron Kuhl made a good hit at the Dogs line to knock the puck free. Trevor Cosgrove would find it and snap a perfect stretch pass up the middle on the tape of Jake Witkowski. He would accelerate over the Merritt line and walk into the high slot where he snapped a quick release, low far side past Berger to make it 4-3 at 5:10 of the third. The Dogs unfortunately couldn't build on it, as just over a minute later they coughed it up in their zone up the middle. An initial shot was blocked, but a scramble in the slot saw Stephen Seeger locate and fire it past the blocker save of Claeys to make it 4-4 as Seeger removed his glove to salute Jaromir Jagr style. Zach Risteau and Cade Gleekel assisted at 6:31 of the third. The teams would continue to push the pace, but there wasn't much in the way of wide open chances. The Centennials would be awarded a power play with seven minutes and change to play in the third, but the Dogs came up with a huge kill to keep it tied and force overtime. Third period shots favoured Merritt 9-4 for a 60 minute advantage of 33-22.
The Centennials would control the puck in the first shift of overtime, and have a fantastic chance to win it when Seeger was set up all alone in front on Claeys. There would be no showboat salute this time, as Claeys came up with a game saver with his glove to keep the game going. The Dogs would win it with 10 seconds to play in OT as Brody Claeys made a blocker save and Trevor Cosgrove batted the puck out of midair and out of the Dogs zone. Mackenzie Wight would chase it down over the Merritt line up the right wing before dropping it to the top of the right circle for Jake Witkowski, who completed the hat trick with a top corner, short-side game winner over the glove of Berger at 4:50 of overtime for the 5-4 final.
Overtime shots favoured the Dogs 5-3, for a game total of 33-27 Centennials, with Brody Claeys picking up the win while Jacob Berger took the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the power play and also scored once shorthanded. The Centennials went 0 for 5 on the power play and also scored once shorthanded.
With the win, the Dogs snap a three game losing streak, and are now just a single point begind the Nanaimo Clippers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Island Division with two games in hand.
The Dogs are next in action Friday and Saturday, when they visit and host the Clippers for a huge home and home set.
Hammer
No comments:
Post a Comment