A solid start to the game for the Bulldogs, as they peppered Evan DeBrouwer in the Prince George net with three shots in the early moments of the game. They would fight off a Spruce Kings push the other way a few minutes later, before earning the first power play chance of the game. They didn't generate much in the way of chances or momentum from it as they appeared out of sync. The Bulldogs were penalized twice later in the period, but defended well on them as they didn't give up much either with John Hawthorne only tested a couple of times. The period ended in a scoreless draw, with shots in favour of Prince George 6-5.
The Bulldogs had the good initial first chance in the second, with Evan DeBouwer making a toe save on a Liam Lytton deflection attempt in front. Prince George would dump it down ice, and take a 1-0 lead as the lone defender back to pick it up misplayed it. Jarod Hovde would walk from behind the net to the top of the left circle where he put a wrist shot at the net. It would hit Blake Hayward in the crease, and bounce cross-crease where Chong Min Lee backhanded it home inside the far post at 2:03 of the second. The Bulldogs responded quickly to tie it as James Orban supported Ezra Paddock in the far corner of the Dogs zone. He would bank a pass up the right wing for Keaton Mastrodonato, who banked it by a defender to create a 2 on 1 rush from centre. He would carry it all the way to the deep slot, where he put a perfect cross-crease feed for Tylen Vanuden, who one-timed it home to make it 1-1 at 3:43 of the second. The Bulldogs weren't able to capitalize on the momentum, and spent the better part of the following minutes defending in their zone. Matt Hughes would use his time out after a long defensive zone shift followed by an icing, and the Bulldogs succeeded in winning a draw and getting a change. They were unable still to gain any attack zone time, and Prince George took a 2-1 lead soon afterwards as Dylan Anhorn put a shot to the slot from the left point where it was deflected by Patrick Cozzi off the post and in past Hawthorne. Dustin Manz also drew an assist on the play at 9:15 of the second. The Dogs earned a power play a minute later, for a chance to get back into it, but again they didn't generate much in the way of chances or momentum. The Spruce Kings would get a big goal in the final 30 seconds of the period when they won a faceoff at their blue line and went D-to-D before a perfect pass up the middle caught the Bulldog defence sleeping resulting in a breakaway that was finished blocker side by Ben Brar at 19:36 of the second for a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Liam Watson-Brawn and Chays Ruddy assisted on the play. Shots were 14-8 Spruce Kings, for a 20-13 lead after two.
The Bulldogs were unable to get anything going early in the third, in large part due to being penalized twice in the first 10 minutes of it. They would once again successfully kill the penalties off, but continued while at even strength to spend too much time in their own end. That would unfortunately be the theme to the final buzzer, as despite a couple short pushes the Bulldogs were unable to threaten to get back into it before the Spruce Kings sealed the deal into an empty net with 35 seconds left as Chays Ruddy blocked a shot that was found by Jarod Hovde who picked the bottom corner from his own end to make it 4-1 at 19:25 of the third.
Shots in the third were 15-2, yes TWO in favour of Prince George for a game total of 35-15 with John Hawthorne taking the loss while Evan DeBrouwer picked up the win. The Bulldogs went 0 for 2 on the power play while the Spruce Kings went 0 for 4.
With the loss, the Dogs losing streak has hit five games while their winless slide is at six. They are next in action tomorrow night in Chilliwack.
Hammer
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