The Dogs began their three game road trip in Penticton Wednesday night. After back to back penalty kills the Dogs had with several good scoring chances early but Vees goalie Sean Bonar was sharp to keep the game scoreless. They would then go to the power play themselves and it didn?t take long to find the net as Mark MacMillan walked to the net on a David Dziurzynski set up where Bonar made the first save, but he couldn?t reel in the rebound as Mark banged it home to make it 1-0 Dogs 12:26 into the first.
The score stayed that way until the Vees tied it up late in the frame when Ben Sexton circled the Bulldogs zone before bringing it behind the net and then wrapping it around through the legs of Slubowski to make it 1-1 with 1:37 left in the first. Joey LaLeggia picked up the only assist. Again after back to back penalty kills in the second the Dogs would strike on a power play goal of their own as David Dziurzynski found Mitch MacMillan walking right down main street where he snapped one blocker side past Bonar to make it 2-1 Dogs. Kevin Ross also picked up an assist 7:55 into the second. The Dogs would again immediately end up in penalty trouble, taking back to back minors, but again they killed them both off and just seconds later Dazid Dziurzynski picked up his third assist of the night, feeding a perfect cross-ice pass to a streaking Tye Lewis off the bench where he absolutely ripped one high glove side on Bonar for a 3-1 Bulldog lead 14:40 into the second. The Dogs would erase all doubt with their third power play goal of the game halfway through the third as Tye Lewis sped up the left wing before bringing the puck behind the net and dishing off to Matt Hatch who took one step off the goal line and threw a quick shot through Bonar to make it 4-1. Kevin Ross again assisted on the play 10:38 into the third.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 21-17. Frank Slubowski picked up the win, while Sean Bonar took the loss. Special teams were absolutely huge in this one, as the Vees went 0 for 7 on the power play, while the Dogs were 3 for 6.
After a day off Thursday, the Dogs headed up to Westside Friday night to face the Warriors. It was an energetic and physical game from the outset, with both teams coming out flying and taking the body. The Warriors would find the net first just as the Dogs had killed off a penalty, as Trevor Bailey potted a rebound in front to make it 1-0. Assists on the play went to Peter MacIntosh and Cam Reid 8:18 into the first. The Dogs came back right off the face off and came close to tying it up, but Matt Hatch?s shot clanged off the post and stayed out. The Warriors would take a 2-0 lead after one on a great play by Patrick Bartoshyk as he knocked a Bulldog D-man off the puck at centre, picked it up, and then dropped it back to the blue line to Brendan Ellis who ripped a cannon glove side on Slubowski. Dru Morrison also picked up an assist 16:12 into the first for a 2-0 Warrior lead after one. The second period would see a parade to the penalty box, with the Dogs first coming up with a big kill on a Westside 5 on 3. The Dogs would then go to the power play themselves and they made good on it when Mark MacMillan threw a cross-crease pass to Mitch who one-timed it home to make it 2-1 5:35 into the second. Tye Lewis also picked up an assist on the play. Just three minutes later the Dogs would tie it up on a 5 on 3 power play when Mitch MacMillan tipped in a Kevin Ross point shot for his second of the game at 58th of the season 8:07 into the second. Mark MacMillan also picked up an assist 8:07 into the second as it was 2-2 after 40 minutes. The Warriors would take their third lead of the game early in the third as the Dogs turned the puck over deep in their end as Tyler Krause got credit for banging the loose puck home to make it 3-2 3:33 into the third. Dru Morrison picked up the only assist. The Dogs would again battle back as they scored their third power play goal of the game when David Dziurzynski threw a pass out front to Mitch MacMillan where he snapped home his third of the night to tie it 3-3. Mark MacMillan also picked up an assist 8:19 into the third. Just three minutes later the Dogs took their first lead of the game as Kevin Ross put a blocker side slap shot past Kevin Jebson to make it 4-3 with 8:14 to play in regulation. Mark MacMillan picked up the only assist. With the goal Ross broke the team record for points in a season by a Defenceman, breaking the record set by Brandon James in 2002-2003. The score stayed that way until the Warriors tied it up late as Tyler Krause got his second of the game tipping one home in front with just 2:18 to play in the third period. The Warriors would have several great chances in the dying moments to get the winner, but Frank Slubowski came up with several great stops around the net. The Warriors would also have the better of the chances to win it in the first overtime, but again the door was shut by Slubowski as the game went to double overtime. In the second OT the Dogs would carry the play, and they eventually got the winner as Frank Riddle sent the puck up the right wing for Tye Lewis. Lewis would somehow find the wheels to chase down a loose puck to get a chance on goal that was stopped by Jebson. Johnny Rogic would find the loose puck behind the goal and throw it our front to Frank Riddle to scored a beauty top shelf glove side as the Dogs came off the bench to celebrate and the Westside fans saluted their team for a great effort in what was a wildly entertaining game. The winner came 3:17 into double overtime, with Lewis and Rogic picking up the assists. With the win the Dogs tied the league record for consecutive road wins with 17 straight.
Final shots favoured the Warriors 43-41 with Frank Slubowski and Kevin Jebson being the goalies of record. Special teams were again huge as the Dogs went 3 for 8 on the power play while the Warriors were 0 for 5.
The Dogs road trip finished Saturday night in Trail as they faced the Smokies for the second time in two weeks. The Smoke Eaters came out looking exactly like a team fighting for their playoff lives, while the Dogs at the same time looked like the team at the end of a road trip who arrived in town at 3am as the Smoke Eaters had noticeable jump in their step. They would find the scoreboard first just past the halfway mark of the opening frame when Michael Betz put a wrist shot high glove side on Scott Lewan. Sean Nugent picked up the only assist 10:08 into the first as it was 1-0 Smokies after one. The Smoke Eaters came out in the second like they started the first, with several great chances around Scott Lewan who was sharp to keep the game 1-0. The Bulldogs would eventually find the board just past the six minute mark when Kevin Ross blasted a point shot home to tie it at 1-1. Mark MacMillan and Nick Cecere picked up the assists at the 6:22 mark. Just three minutes later the Smoke Eaters took the lead right back as Wade Bennett drove the net and knocked one in on a cross ice pass from Steve Oursov. Matt Wilkins also picked up an assist 9:14 into the second as it was 2-1 Trail. Just over a minute later it was 3-1 when Scott Jacklin tipped in a Curtis Tonello point shot on the power play just past the halfway mark of the game. Michael Betz picked up the only assist 10:26 into the second. The Dogs would battle back to make it a one goal game four minutes later on a power play goal of their own as David Dziurzynski slapped a loose puck into the open net at the 14:34 mark of the second. Mitch MacMillan picked up the only assist. The Dogs wouldn?t be able to seize any momentum as just three minutes later Wade Bennett picked up the second of the season, and of the per
