The Bulldogs opened up their three game weekend Friday night in Powell River. There would be no scoring through the first period of play, and not much in the way of scoring chances as the teams combined for just 11 shots.
What the game lacked in scoring chances, it made up for in physical play as there were plenty of big hits from both sides. The second period saw the Kings push hard to get the game?s first goal, but they couldn?t beat Frank Slubowski, who was sharp. Late in the period, the Dogs appeared to take some momentum off a big win by Trent Dorais in a scrap against Jason Yee, and just moments later they would take a 1-0 lead when Tye Lewis walked up the left wing and snapped a rocket short-side past Michael Garteig. Matt Hatch picked up the only assist at the 17:29 mark of the second. Just 1:02 later the Dogs found the net again when Lewis again put a hard shot on net down the left wing. The rebound would be found by Matt Hatch, who threw it in front to Lewis who had his first chance stopped. He then got the puck back and threw it across the crease to Johnny Rogic who slammed it into the open net for the 2-0 Dogs lead at the 18:31 mark of the second period. The Dogs would get in penalty trouble late in the period, resulting in the Kings going to a 5 on 3 power play for over a minute and a half. The Dogs would kill it off in textbook fashion, not giving up much in the way of chances. Seconds after the kill was up, Mark MacMillan cleared the puck and Frank Riddle stepped out of the penalty box and walked down the left side where he roofed a short-side shot high on Michael Garteig for a 3-0 Bulldog lead just 2:10 into the period. No assists were given on the goal. The Kings would spoil Frank Slubowski?s shutout bid just short of the halfway mark of the third period when they converted on the power play as Daniel Carr tipped in a Darcy Huisman point shot to make it 3-1. Reid Campbell also picked up an assist at the 9:17 mark of the third. The Dogs would get that one back just over a minute later on a great set up in front as Mitch MacMillan swept the puck from his stomach in the slot to his brother Mark at the side of the net where he roofed it over a fallen Josh Watson who had entered the game in relief of Garteig after the third goal. Frank Riddle also picked up an assist as it was 4-1 Dogs 10:36 into the third. The Dogs would have several great chances to build their lead as the game got in the final minutes but Watson made several great stops to keep it 4-1.
Final shots favoured the Kings 38-20 with Frank Slubowski picking up the win and second star honours in net. Michael Garteig took the loss giving up the first three goals before Josh Watson entered the game. The Dogs were 0 for 5 on the power play while the Kings were 1 for 7.
The Bulldogs made their way to Surrey Saturday night to face the Eagles for the fourth and final time this season. The game was scoreless past the halfway point of the first period when the Dogs took a 1-0 lead when Mitch MacMillan broke a three game mini goal scoring slump as he redirected a David Dziurzynski shot through the legs of Vinny Lessard. Mark MacMillan also picked up an assist on the play 12:31 into the first as the Dogs took the 1-0 lead into the second period. Mitch MacMillan found the net again before the second period was five minutes old as he tipped another one in, this time a power play point shot by Tye Lewis, to make it 2-0. Kevin Ross also picked up an assist 4:10 into the second. The Eagles would come close to getting on the board late in the second on a shorthanded breakaway, but Frank Slubowski got enough of the shot to keep it out as Johnny Rogic cleared the loose puck off the goal line as the Dogs lead 2-0 after two periods. The Dogs would build their lead to 3-0 before the third period was five minutes old as Frank Riddle broke a pass up at the Bulldog net, and Johnny Rogic fed a perfect pass up the right wing for Tye Lewis as he raced in on the breakaway. Lewis would be taken down on the rush to the net, but his momentum carried the puck into the net along with the Eagles goaltender. The referee would rule the puck went in before the net came off as it was 3-0 Dogs with 4:27 gone in the third. No assists were given on the goal. The Dogs would push to build their lead, but Lessard came up with several big stops in front to keep the Eagles in it. At the other end, the Eagles would push hard to make a game of it but Frank Slubowski was again rock solid. The Eagles would finally break Slubowski?s shutout bid with 1:35 left in the game to make it 3-1 when Andrew Wallace tipped in a Neil Blunden point shot. Mike Krgovich also picked up an assist. That would be as close as the Eagles would get as the Dogs ran the rest of the time off to win their 10th in a row.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 33-32 with Frank Slubowski picking up the win and first star honours. Vinny Lessard took the loss. The Dogs were 1 for 4 on the power play while the Eagles were 1 for 6.
The Dogs road trip ended Sunday afternoon in Nanaimo as the Dogs and Clippers met for the sixth time this season. The Dogs looked a little road weary early in the game as the Clippers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the game was five minutes old. First it was Colton Cyr who drove the net down the right wing and put a perfect shot high short side on Scott Lewan to make it 1-0 2:12 into the game. The goal was unassisted. It would be 2-0 Clippers just over two minutes later on the power play on a pretty passing play on the rush finished off by Luc Olivier Blain into the open side. Cody Bremner and Joe Perry picked up the assists 4:33 into the first. The Dogs would battle back to get on the board just over two minutes later when Mark MacMillan put a perfect cross crease pass to his brother Mitch that he one-timed into the open net. David Dziurzynski also picked up an assist 6:09 into the first. The Dogs tied it up just under three minutes later when Mark MacMillan threw the puck out of the right corner to the top of the crease to David Dziurzynski who won a battle for the loose puck and fired it through Rhys Hadfield to make it 2-2 at the 9:05 mark. The first period ended with the Bulldogs on the power play, and the Clippers then taking a bench minor as the period expired. That would result in a 5 on 3 when the second period started, that the Dogs made good on when Tye Lewis ripped a shot from the right circle high glove side for the 3-2 Dogs lead 50 seconds into the second period. The score stayed that way until the later stages of the second when the Dogs won a long battle in the offensive zone as Tye Lewis put the puck in front for Johnny Rogic, who put a spin move on the defender on his drive to the net. Matt Hatch would follow the play up and knock the loose puck over the line to make it 4-2 Dogs 13:13 into the second. The only goal for the remainder of the game came from Mark MacMillan, as he got credit for banging in a loose puck on a long scramble in the Clipper crease to make it 5-2 with 4:39 left in the third for the final score.
Final shots favoured the Clippers 26-22, with Scott Lewan and Rhys Hadfield being the goalies of record. The Dogs were 3 for 6 on the power play while the Clippers were 1 for 7.
With the three wins the Bulldogs have now won 11 straight games. They are next in action Friday night in Powell River when they begin another three-in-three road trip.
Don?t forget the BCHL All-Star game Wednesday in Nanaimo where Frank Slubowski, Mitch MacMillan, and Nolan Graham will all represent the Bulldogs organization. The Bulldogs have a fan bus heading down from the Multiplex but there are only a small number of seats left. Call the Bulldogs office for more information
