(image: Chloe Garvey)
Two goals in 25 seconds blew a scoreless tie open late in the first period, as the Bulldogs skated to a 7-2 win Saturday night in Powell River
The game was back and forth through the midway point of the first, and scoreless, with neither team generating much in the way of Grade A chances. Things picked up in a hurry in the back half of the period, as the Bulldogs blew it open with two goals in 25 seconds. The first saw Jacob Terpstra win an attacking zone draw back to Leith Hunter, who went D-to-D across the line for Wyatt Davis, who blew a slapper off the post and in. Seconds later Brenden Espenell scored on a wrist shot from the slot off a Grady Magner and Brandon Gill set up. Two minutes later on the dot, Jacob Terpstra sent Wyatt Blace in alone, where he went short-side high on Erik Powers to make it 3-0 after the first.
The Bulldogs built their lead to 4-0 on the power play seven minutes into the second, as Jacob Terpstra found Wyatt Davis at the side of the net. His bid was stopped, but he put the puck across the crease for Brandon Gill, who lifted it home. Powell River made it a 4-1 game with seven minutes left in the period, on a puck that went off the skate of Marek Beaudoin in the paint and in past Charlie Durkin. It was 4-2 with under three minutes to play in the period, as Brendan Giles set up Ryan Hedley with a one-timer between the hashmarks that he made no mistake on to make it a two-goal game after two.
The Bulldogs took a 5-2 lead on the power play in the third, after failing to score on a 5 on 3 power play, as Brandon Gill potted his second of the game from behind the goal line off a Jacob Terpstra shot was deflected by Wyatt Davis. The Bulldogs made it 6-2 with eight minutes to play, as Grayson Salmon put the puck deep for Charlie Vincent rimmed it to the right wing wall, where Brenden Espenell put a wrist shot on goal that eluded Powers for his second of the game. The scoring was completed with under three minutes to play as Grayson Salmon found Jacob Terpstra entering the zone where he drove the net and made a dazzling move to elude the defender and walk around Powers before roofing it high glove side to complete the scoring and make it a 7-2 final.
Shots were 39-26 Bulldogs, with Charlie Durkin earning his first career win in net while Erik Powers took the loss. The Bulldogs went 2 for 5 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 1.
The Bulldogs next see action when they host the Langley Rivermen on Wednesday night, a make up game from Septeember 27th.
