The Bulldogs earned a power play before the game was a minute old - a four minute advantage in fact, but they were unable to get much going before conceding the opening goal on a pretty backdoor set up by Jagger Williamson that was deflected in by Jesse Lansdell at 4:26 of the first. It was 2- Vernon three minutes later on the rush, as Jimmy Lambert picked up a pass in full flight over the Bulldog line up the right side where he snapped a perfectly placed shot top corner, far-side under the bar and over the blocker of Brock Lefevbre at 7:05 of the second, with Chris Jandric drawing the only assist. The Vipers further padded their lead with less than five to play in the period as the Dogs were caught deep in the attacking zone resulting in a 2 on 1 rush. The first shot was blocked by a Bulldog defender, but it ended up right on the stick of Michael Young in the hashmarks, who beat Lefevbre with a quick release blocker side to make it 3-0 at 15:24 of the first. Shots after 20 minutes were 12-6 Vipers.
The Bulldogs began the second period on the power play, but didn't look sharp on it and weren't able to generate any momentum. As the period wore on to the midway point, they did a good job of stepping up their game with an increased pace to their play resulting in a couple good opportunities on goal, but they couldn't beat Anthony Yamnitski to trim the deficit. The kept pushing the pace, and were finally rewarded for it late in the period as Christian Simeone gained the line and passed to the deep slot for James Orban. He was checked but it came right back to Simeone who walked in and fired a quick wrister that just snuck through Yamnitski and dribbled over the line to make it 3-1, with Orban drawing the lone assist at 14:08 of the second. The Dogs continued to threaten, and drew a late period power play after a good attacking zone shift. They would have two Grade A chances on the power play, with Christian Simeone stopped on an in-alone chance from the top of the crease by Yamnitski, followed by a fantastic save a Vipers Defenceman on a Keaton Mastrodonato cross-ice set up where it looked like he had an empty net to keep it 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs failed to convert of their remaining power play time to begin the third, and then came up with a solid penalty kill to keep it a two-goal game immediately afterwards. The Bulldogs pushed near the midway point of the period to get back in the game, and generated a handful of good chances around the Viper net but couldn't beat Yamnitski to make a game of it. The Vipers would push hard through the final ten minutes, at one point changing all three Forwards while on the attack in the Bulldog zone for an extended clock eating shift. The Bulldogs came up with a penalty kill following it to remain in the game, but were unable to threaten before the Vipers hit the empty net on an attacking blue line turnover that was found by Brett Stapley who lifted a perfect shot high over the head of a Bulldog defender from centre ice to complete the scoring for the 4-1 final at 18:40 of the third. No assists were given on the play.
Shots in the third were 13-6 Vipers, for a 32-27 total in their favour. Brock Lefevbre took the loss while Anthony Yamnitski earned the win while also earning 1st star honours. The Dogs went 0 for 4 on the power play while Vipers went 0 for 3 while also scoring once while shorthanded.
With the loss, the Dogs have dropped a season high six straight games. They are next in action Thursday night when they visit the Grizzlies in Victoria.
Hammer
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