The Bulldogs and Clippers met in a Playoff preview Friday night at the Frank Crane, with the Bulldogs getting off to a solid start, winning the opening draw and moving the puck with three quick passes and a one-touch that saw Matt Hansen walk up the left wing and around a Clipper defender before cutting in alone on Derek Dun. Hansen would attempt to beat Dun high short-side but it just stayed out, either off the goalie or off the cross-bar. The Bulldogs would run up an early lead in shots, eventually taking a 1-0 lead from a faceoff in the Clippers zone as Matt Hansen found a loose puck after Manny Gialedakis won the draw and Nick Kerr drew traffic, resulting in Hansen walking around Dun and lifting it into the open side for a 1-0 lead from Kerr and Gialedakis at 14:15 of the first. The Dogs had a great chance on another faceoff to build the lead shortly afterwards as Matt Hansen again walked in alone but Dun kept it out. Exactly two minutes after the Dogs took the lead the Clippers tied the game at 1-1 as a Bulldog defender stepped up at the blue line to make a big hit but missed, resulting in an odd-man rush that saw Reid Sturos feed a cross-ice pass onto the tape of Kyle Kramer who one-timed it under the bar before Rebagliati could get over. Greg Fraser also picked up an assist on the goal at 16:15 of the first.
The second period didn’t begin well for the Bulldogs, as they fell into a 2-1 hole after a controversial minor penalty called after the whistle by the Officiating crew saw the Clippers go to a man advantage. They would connect on the power play on a puck thrown to the net that was stopped by Rebagliati, but the rebound found its way into the back of the net with Trevor Fitzgerald getting credit for it, from Reid Sturos and Matt Grant at 1:56 of the second. The Dogs would go to the power play shortly afterwards but it would be the Clippers finding the net after Josh Bryan outworked three Bulldogs in his own zone and fed the puck ahead for a long 2 on 1 where Reid Sturos and Trevor Fitzgerald worked the give and go to perfection with Sturos one-timing it into the open side at 4:44 to make it 3-1 Clippers. The Bulldogs would battle back on the next shift to take momentum back, and while they didn’t score on the power play they did connect shortly afterwards on a long shift hemming the Clippers in their zone when Eric Walker made a big play to keep the puck in at the line before sending it deep to Ryan Lough. He would then find Evan Tironese behind the net, where he centered to Hunter Stewart, who one-timed it home short-side to make it 3-2 at 6:23 of the second. The Dogs would keep the pressure up, tying the game six minutes later on a great set up by Bo Pellah as he first raced to get a loose puck at centre before wheeling up ice and over the Clippers line up the right wing before putting a perfect pass onto the tape of Chase Paylor in the slot where he finished top corner, glove side on Dun. Assists on the play went to Strand and Walker, but it was certainly Pellah that made it happen at 12:32 of the second. The Bulldogs would again fall behind before the period was out on yet another Clipper power play goal, failing to clear the puck on several instances as Reid Sturos tipped one home from the slot for his second of the game with assists going to Austin Dick and Matt Grant at 16:34 of the second for a 4-3 Clippers lead after two periods.
The third period began with the Bulldogs facing adversity from the officiating, failing to draw what looked like several penalties before then ending up in the penalty box twice in quick succession, leading to a long 5 on 3 power play. The Bulldogs would kill it with Brad Rebagliati making several big saves and his penalty killers helping out around the net to kill it at keep it 4-3. Immediately following the kill the Bulldogs went to the power play, and while they failed to score they got the momentum back, leading to another power play. They would connect on it to tie the game with great puck movement as Jared Wilson set up Matt Hansen on the left wing boards. Hansen would throw the puck cross ice to Chase Van Allen at the right point and then drive the net where he found the rebound and slid it home before Dun could get over. Van Allen picked up the only assist at 9:37 of the third. The Bulldogs would have two more power play chances over the remainder of regulation but they couldn’t find the winner as the game went to overtime. The Dogs dominated the opening shift of overtime, with Chase Paylor, Mitch Makin, Tryg Strand and Kurt Gosselin controlling the puck in the Clipper zone leading to Gosselin drawing a four minute penalty when he was cut by a high stick. The Dogs worked the puck around beautifully and had several great chances turned away before Kurt Gosselin got the winner putting a shot on net through traffic from the left circle that beat Dun short-side. Tryg Strand and Chase Paylor drew the assists at 4:16 of overtime as the Dogs streamed off the bench to celebrate, before saluting their fans that came down to cheer them on before leaving the ice.
Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 45-35 with Brad Rebagliati picking up the win while Derek Dun took the loss. The Dogs went 2 for 8 on the power play while the Clippers went 2 for 4 while also scoring once shorthanded.
