(image: Chaisson Creative)
A strong start wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs lost a second straight game 5-2 at home on Saturday night
The Bulldogs got off to a good start, and took a 1-0 lead just short of the midway point of the first when Grayson Salmon tipped in a Patrick Vogl shot off the right wing. Brendan DeFeo also drew an assist. The Bulldogs were immediately penalized, and the Capitals connected on the chance, with Slade Firkus scoring on a one-timer from the slot. Cowichan took a 2-1 lead on a giveaway and a breakaway finished through Shea by Anthony Hall. Another Bulldog penalty ended up in the back of their net before the period was out, as Carter DeKay buried a one-timer off the crossbar from the right side of the slot, as it was 3-1 Capitals after one.
Cowichan had the bulk of the chances early in the second, with Ryder Shea coming up with a series of highlight reel saves to keep the deficit at two. The score stayed that way through the late stages of the period, with Shea being rock solid, and the Bulldogs turning over pucks repeatedly. It stayed a 3-1 game into the dressing room, with the Bulldogs spending the last three minutes of the frame on the penalty kill after a major penalty was called after video review.
The Bulldogs killed off the final two minutes of the major to start the third, but couldn’t get going before the Capitals made it 4-1 on a Carter DeKay blocker-side wrister from the slot. DeKay scored again to complete the hat trick to make it 5-1 three minutes later, again open in the slot and going blocker side. The Bulldogs would make it a 5-2 final with five minutes to play when Wyatt Davis sent the puck ahead to Kai Matthew, who fed a streaking Terpstra up the left wing to cut around a defender, and then Rhett Stoesser, two tuck it home to make it 5-2. For Terpstra, it extended his goal streak to four straight games.
The Bulldogs were out shot 36-20, with Ryder Shea taking the loss in net, while Rhett Stoesser took the loss. Cowichan Valley went 2 for 3 on the power play, while the Bulldogs went 0 for 4.
