Clippers top Bulldogs 5-2

The Clippers spent the better part of the first couple minutes of the game in the Dogs end, but werent able to generate any chances. The Bulldogs would push back and have a good chance to tie it on the rush, but Jackson Doucet's shot hit the post behind Taz Burman and stayed out. The Clippers would continue to press, and took a 1-0 lead with six minutes to play in the period as Brad Belisle threw a quick pass to the lip of the crease where Lucas Vanroboys one-touch deflected it top corner, long-side past the glove of Hawthorne at 13:34 of the first. A very similar goal made it 2-0 less than two mintues later, with the same line on the ice as Brad Belisle again threw the puck to the top of the crease from the left side of the Dogs zone, this time it was Joshua Bourne who one-touch tipped it off the post and in, far side. Lucas Vanroboys also drew an assist on it at 15:08 of the first. Shots in the period were 8-6 Clippers.


The second period started with the Bulldogs again on the defensive side of the puck in their zone, with the Clippers winning a series of four straight faceoffs to generate offense with John Hawthorne coming up with a couple great saves to keep it 2-0. The Bulldogs would score against the flow of play to make it a one-goal game, as Ryan Steele made a perfect stretch pass to Keaton Mastrodonato over the Nanaimo line up the right wing. He drove wide to the bottom of the right circle before throwing a perfect cross-ice pass onto the tape of James Orban, who one-timed it into the open net to make it 2-1 at 5:06 of the second. The Bulldogs weren't able to push with the momentum, as they instantly ended up in penalty trouble, as 12 seconds into a Nanaimo power play they were again penalized at the side of their net. The Clippers made quick work of the long 5 on 3, working the puck around perfectly as David Melaragni found Jake Harris at the right side of the net near the goal line, where he put a perfect pass backdoor onto the tape of Tristan Crozier, who one-timed it low short-side before Hawthorne could get over to make it 3-1 at 7:41 of the second. John Hawthorne would come up big to keep the Dogs in it, stopping Joshua Bourne on a breakaway. The Dogs earned their first power play of the game late in the period, and made quick work of it as Ryan Steele and Keaton Mastrodonato threw back to back hits on the end wall in the Nanaimo zone, and Tyler Vanuden supported to find the puck and get it back to the blue line. Connor Welsh would find Darren Rizzolo at the right point, and he put it in deep to the right side of the net for Ryan Steele. He made a perfect backdoor pass for a moving in Welsh, who one-timed it home short-side before Burman could get over to make it 3-2 at 17:10 of the second. The Clippers would be penalized twice in quick succession to end the period, both on after the whistle infractions, with the Bulldogs having a 5 on 3 power play of 1:26 in duration to begin the third. Shots in the second 13-8 Nanaimo, for a 40 minute total in their favour of 21-14.


The Bulldogs had a couple good looks on the two-man advantage, but Taz Burman protected the lead as the Clippers killed it off. Just a minute later they would restore their two goal lead as a bad giveaway at the side of the net was one-timed on goal, with Hawthorne making a great save on Brad Belisle. He couldn't get any help from his defence in the paint, as Lucas Vanroboys jammed the bouncing puck over the line to make it 4-2, with Brad Belisle and Joshua Bourne assisting at 3:03 of the third. The Bulldogs wouldn't be able to generate enough to get back into it, as the Clippers put the game away with just over eight minutes to play as Sam McBean put a wrist shot on goal from the left point that was deflected home at the side of the net by David Silye. Parker Colley also drew an assist on the play at 11:56 of the third to complete the scoring for the 5-2 final.


Third period shots were 13-8 Clippers, for a game total in their favour of 34-22, with Taz Burman picking up the win while John Hawthorne took the loss. The Dogs went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Clippers went 1 for 5.


These teams next see action Friday night in Nanaimo.


Thanks as always for checking the blog.


Hammer 

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