A late winner from Brenden Espenell and a three point night for Kai Benoche propelled the Bulldogs to a 5-3 win over the Vernon Vipers Saturday.
The Vipers opened the scoring just over five minutes in, as Sebastian Bradshaw chased down an up-ice chip and drew two defenders to him before finding an un-guarded Deagan McMillan in front, who received the bouncing puck and went between his legs to beat Ryder Shea five hole to open the scoring. The lead didn’t last long, as just 24 seconds later it was 1-1 as Wyatt Davis drove a shot on net that went off the mask of Oliver Kanat and onto the stick of Kye Benoche, who one-timed it upstairs glove side for his first goal in a Bulldog sweater to tie it at 1-1. The Bulldogs pushed late in the period on the power play, but couldn’t beat Kanat as it stayed tied into the second.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game five minutes into the second on the power play, as Kai Matthew picked the top corner over the glove of Kanat. The referee signalled goal, the video review system wasn’t working, but overhead replays in the rink showed it was in. Drawing assists were Wyatt Davis and Caden Tremblay. The Bulldogs went up 3-1 late in the period, as a Brenden Espenell point shot was double deflected by Brandon Gill, then Teague McAllister before McAllister potted the end board bounce. Ryder Shea came up with a big save late in the period on an in-alone chance for Lane Sim to keep it 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Vernon made it 3-2 before the third was a minute old, on a rebound in front on the power play finished off by Dimitrii Kubantsev. They tied it 3-3 on a sharp angle squeaker by Edvin Nilsson two minutes later as he snuck one home on the rush down the left wing through Shea. The score stayed that way until the back half of the third, with the Bulldogs taking the lead for good on a Brenden Espenell point through through traffic that had eyes to make it 4-3, after Kai Benoche fed him at the right point after good work behind the Viper net by Brayden Kaldenbach and Samuel Leonard. The BUlldogs made the lead stand until the final minute, when Leonard and Teague McAllister fought the puck loose at the Bulldog bench for Kai Benoche, who hit the empty net to make it a 5-3 final.
Shots were 35-28 Bulldogs, with Ryder Shea earning the win in net while Oliver Kanat took the loss. The Bulldogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Vipers went 1 for 2.
The Bulldogs next see action on the road next weekend, as they visit the Prince George Spruce Kings for a double header Friday and Saturday, with start times of 7:00 and 6:00 respectively.
