The Bulldogs began the game on the power play, due to the Silverbacks being whistled for a warm up infraction, as they didn't leave the ice before the clock hit zero. The Bulldogs looked flat on the power play, but struck with one second remaining in it as Luc Salem did a nice job to keep the puck in at the left point. Keaton Mastrodonato would support the pile, and chip it down the left side for Michael Sacco. He would pick it up and walk untouched to the net where he snapped one through the legs of Kyle Dumba from in tight to make it 1-0 at 1:59 of the first. The clock stopped late, so it wasn't credited as a power play goal. No assists were given on on the play. The Bulldogs continued pushing, and drew another power play seconds later. They would connect on it, on the rush, on a blown call at the attacking line as Paul Selleck appeared to take down a Silverback without the puck. Mitch Oliver head-manned a pass up the left wing for Julian Benner, who gained the line with speed before dishing off a perfect cross-ice pass for Jackson Doucet in the right circle, where he ripped a one-timer through Dumba to make it 2-0 at 4:05 of the first, with Paul Selleck - who didn't touch the puck, drawing the only assist. The Referees would immediately commence the even up, with Salmon Arm awarded a 5 on 3 power play for 1:16 in duration exactly two minutes later. The Bulldogs would kill it, with John Hawthorne coming up with a couple big saves, the most notable one on Rhett Kingston on an in alone net drive. The Silverbacks pushed with the power play momentum, and made it a 2-1 game soon afterwards as Nick Unruh located an end-board bounce back of the net and fed it out front to Grayson Constable, who one-timed it far-side past Hawthorne. 9:42 was the time of the goal, with Travis Halladay also assisting. The Bulldogs would again be penalized a minute later, nd Salmon Arm connected on it to tie the game as Akito Hirose put a slapper on net from the left point that hit a Bulldog defender and deflected up and over Hawthorne. Assists on the play went to Trevor Adams and Trey Thomas 12:12 of the first. There would be no scoring the rest of the way, with the shots even at 14-14 after one.
The second period started with a bang, with the Bulldogs restoring their lead just 55 seconds into it as Jackson Doucet threw a big hit at centre on Trevor Adams to knock him off the puck. Mitch Oliver would find it, and head-manned it up the right wing for Cole Poliziani. He would walk deep down the right side into the Salmon Arm zone before dishing off to the deep slot for Doucet, who fired a quick release long-side past the glove of Dumba to make it 3-2. The Dogs earned another power play quickly, and made quick work of it as Darren Rizzolo fed the puck from the left point to the top of the right circle for Keaton Mastrodonato. He would put a perfect cross-ice pass onto the tape of Tyler Vanuden, who ripped it home high into the open side to make it 4-2 at 4:25 of the second. The Bulldogs didn't respond well to the lead, as the Silverbacks pushed right back and forced them into a series of failed clears in their zone and made it 4-3 as Max Wutske put a slap shot on net from the right point that was stopped by Hawthorne, but Tanner Campbell found the rebound un-checked in front where he tucked it inside the near post. Demetri Kambeitz also drew an assist at 5:06 of the second. The Bulldogs would then spent the better part of the remainder of the period in the penalty box, penalized four straight times including twice in quick succession, giving Salmon Arm two more 5 on 3 power play chances - one of which was over a minute in duration on a horrible call that saw Julian Benner take contact at centre ice - not initiate it, but still be penalized. The Bulldogs would kill them all off, with Hawthorne coming up with a couple big saves, and his penalty killers coming up with big blocks and critical clears. Hawthorne would come up big again on a breakaway chance for Grayson Constable, protecting the lead. The Silverbacks would tie it with just 18 seconds left in the period on the rush, as Akito Hirose was stopped, but the loose puck went to Tanner Campbell, who beat Hawthorne short-side under his arm with a quick release to make it 4-4 at 19:42 of the second. Shots in the period were 17-5 Salmon Arm, for a 40 minute total of 31-19.
The 'Backs had a good chance for the go-ahead goal a minute into the third, but Hawthorne came up with a big goalmouth save on Tanner Campbell. The Bulldogs were again penalized early in the period, and once again came up with a big kill to keep it tied. They finally earned a power play a couple minutes later, and for the fourth time in the game connected on it as Tyler Vanuden sent the puck to the deep slot for Keaton Mastrodonato. He would put a slap shot on goal from the middle of the slot that was deflected home by Michael Sacco on the door step to make it 5-4 Bulldogs at 7:19 of the third. Once again, the Bulldogs didn't respond well to the goal for, as Salmon Arm tied it just over a minute later as Sol Seibel took a drop pass in the slot from Tanner Campbell that he fired in past the blocker of Hawthorne. Also drawing an assist on the play was Nick Unruh, at 8:34 of the third. The Silverbacks would take their first lead of the game with just over eight minutes to play on the rush as John Hawthorne made the first save with his blocker on Brandon Whistle, but Demetri Kambeitz beat his man to the net and jammed the rebound home five hole to make it 6-5 Salmon Arm at 11:51 of the third. The Bulldogs would push back and get the equalizer with just over a minute to play as Luc Salem went to D-to-D for Spencer Hora, who dumped it into the Salmon Arm zone where Michael Sacco found it off a defenders arm and walked in alone where he snuck it in through the legs of Dumba to make it 6-6 at 18:32 of the third to force overtime. Shots in the third were 8-6 Salmon Arm for a 60 minute total of 39-25.
Overtime saw the Bulldogs questionably penalized early in it, but once again come up with a big kill to keep the game going, with John Hawthorne coming up with a couple good saves to protect the tie. Overtime shots were 5-2 Salmon Arm. Double overtime saw the Silverbacks win the opening draw, and never lose possession as they regrouped and made a change before getting the winner as Trevor Adams walked out from behind the goal line and out front where he was stopped by Hawthorne, but was able to find his own rebound home and slide it inside the far post for the game winner and a 7-6 final at 1:22 of double OT.
Final shots were 47-27 Salmon Arm, with John Hawthorne and Kyle Dumba being the goalies of record. The Bulldogs went 4 for 7 on the power paly while Salmon Arm went 1 for 10.
The Bulldogs are next in action tomorrow night in Vernon, a 6:00pm puck drop.
Hammer
____________________________________________________________
There has never been a subscription fee for this blog - and there never will be, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much. *
*As eloquently said by Gregg Drinnan of Taking Note - the best hockey/sports blog around
No comments:
Post a Comment