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A poor start for the Bulldogs, as they spent the better part of the first two minutes in their end. While they didn't give up much, they were still on their heels. Soon afterwards, an away from the puck shoving match saw the Bulldogs pick up the extra two minutes from the centre ice Referee. The Dogs would get to the final 15 seconds and change on the kill, but the Capitals found the net on a poor clearing attempt that hit Ben Verrall at the right point and bounced across the line and onto the tape of Jarid Domin at the top of the point. He would beat Brody Claeys with a slapper that went off the post and in, blocker side, to make it 1-0 at the 3:53 mark of the first. The Dogs responded well to the goal against, pushing back and getting their feet going to get into the game. They would draw a power play of their own on a nasty hit from behind on Keaton Mastrodonato. The Dogs didn't look especially good on the power play, but still connected with a few seconds remaining in the advantage as Cayden Kraus took a pass from Henry Marshall on the right wing and walked up the wall and across the zone to the slot down the left side where he picked the top corner, far-side over the glove of Lane Michasiw to make it 1-1 at 15:36 of the first with Ryan Steele also drawing an assist. The Dogs were given an almost instantaneous penalty after the goal, but drew an immediate penalty right back to make it four-aside hockey. During that they took a 2-1 lead as Tristan Bukovec banked one off the feet of Lane Michasiw from behind the goal line, unassisted at 16:03. The Capitals would answer back just 57 seconds later however, with Rhett Kingston taking a pass on the rush from Chris Harpur in the left circle, that he ripped top corner, short-side high on Claeys to make it 2-2 at 17:00 of the first with Max Newton also assisting the play. Shots in the period favoured the Capitals 14-7.
After what felt like double the 17 minutes that the intermission is supposed to be due to an on-ice magic show, the second period began with very sloppy play from both sides of the puck as the players were obviously very affected by the delay. As the period wore on, the pace picked up again and each team would have their chances, but neither goalie would be beaten as the score remained 2-2 after 40 minutes. Second period shots favoured the Capitals 10-8, for a game total of 24-15.
The Capitals would take a 3-2 lead before the third was three minutes old, as a Bulldog foward tried to cross the zone and beat two Caps but was stripped of it by Ryan Hogg. He would go to the net and take a feed in the left circle from Alec Zawatsky that he snapped home low, short-side past the blocker of Claeys. Nick Wilson also drew an assist on the play at 2:34 of the third. The pace stayed high through the next ten minutes, but neither goalie blinked when called upon. The whistled appeared to be put away, but they came out with five minutes to go when the Bulldogs were sent to the penalty box. They came up with a solid kill to keep in the game, and seconds later tied it up as Mackenzie Wight stole the puck behind the Capitals net and put a perfect pass to the slot to Henry Marshall, who one-timed it low and inside the far post past Michasiw to tie it at 3-3 with 1:48 to play with Ryan Steele also drawing an assist. Third period shots were even at 7-7 for a 60 minute total of 31-22 Capitals.
The first overtime saw the Dogs have the initial possession and chance, but the Capitals push back with a series of great chances, the most notable coming on a partial 2 on 1 rush where Brody Claeys made the initial save, and two follow up rebound stops to keep the Dogs alive. Shots in the first overtime favoured the Capitals 7-1.
The Dogs had the best chance in the early moments of double OT, with Ryan Steele walking through the defence and through sticks across his arms and in alone on goal where Lane Michasiw just got his right toe on it to keep it out. The Capitals would have a glorious chance on the next sequence, with Max Newton being robbed from the hash-marks by the glove of Claeys. The Dogs had the next best chance as Jordan Sandhu walked in on a partial breakaway that saw Michasiw appear to just get his blocker on a top corner backhand to keep it out as time would expire with neither team able to find the net.
Final shots favoured the Capitals 42-28 with Brody Claeys earning third star honours in picking up the tie with Lane Michasiw. The Dogs went 1 for 4 on the power play while the Capitals went 1 for 5.
The Dogs are next in action next Wednesday when they visit the Clippers in Nanaimo.
Hammer
