The Dogs started the game flying much like Sunday’s contest in Surrey, taking an early lead in shots on goal and having the best early chance as Manny Gialedakis was robbed on the doorstep by Derek Dun in the opening moments. The Capitals would then put on the pressure and take a 1-0 lead on a scramble in front of the net as Steen Cooper pounced on a loose puck and slid it by Brad Rebagliati, 3:12 into the first with assists to Keyler Bruce and Jarrett Brown. The Capitals would then build the lead to 2-0 on the power play as Ryan Hanes deflected a point shot past Brad Rebagliati at 9:38 of the first. The Dogs battled back to make it a 2-1 game just 1:04 later as Evan Anderson drove the net and one-timed an Evan Tironese centering pass at 10:42. Shortly afterwards the Capitals went to a four-minute power play where they built the lead on the second half of the penalty on another deflected shot as Steen Cooper got credit from Tyler Mueller and Keyler Bruce at 15:32 of the first. The Bulldogs would put on the pressure and have several outstanding scoring chances but Derek Dun make a collection of big saves to hold the fort as the period ended with the Caps up 3-1.
The Bulldogs would again come out flying in the second, making it a 3-2 game on the power play at 4:34 mark as Kurt Gosselin took a pass in the left circle from Evan Tironese before setting up Evan Anderson for his second of the game into an open net off the back post. It was 3-3 five minutes later as the Dogs kept up the pressure and were rewarded for it as Turner Popoff’s shot from the left point changed direction and found its way past Dun. Manny Gialedakis appeared to tip it but Popoff got credit for the goal and Gialedakis was credited with an assist at 9:48 of the second. The Dogs kept their foot on the gas and drew a penalty shortly afterwards that they turned into their first lead of the game on another pretty set up on the power play as Chase Van Allen sent the puck to Kurt Gosselin in the left circle where he then made a perfect cross-ice pass to Evan Tironese in the right faceoff dot where he one-timed one home short side before Dun could get over as the Dogs led 4-3 at 11:04 of the second. The lead wouldn’t last for long though as the Capitals tied the game 59 seconds later as Matt Grant jammed the puck through Brad Rebagliati’s pads and just over the line as it was 4-4 with Kyle Horsman assisting. Just a minute later it was 5-4 Caps as Teal Burns drove down the left wing on the rush and threw the puck at the net where Travis Stephens jammed it home through traffic. Ryan Hanes also drew an assist on the play at 13:17 of the second as Rebagliati was replaced by Jay Deo in the Dogs net. The Capitals would complete the scoring for the game later in the period when they connected on a two-man advantage when Matt Grant walked to the net and went top corner on Deo from in tight with assists to Steen Cooper and Troy Paterson at 17:42 of the second for a 6-4 lead.
The third period saw the Dogs push hard to get back into it in the back half of the period but they were unable to get the next one to make a game of it, as they couldn’t find the net on a power play with six minutes remaining.
Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 36-32 in a losing cause for Brad Rebagliati in net while Derek Dun picked up the win. The Dogs went 2 for 5 on the power play while the Capitals went 3 for 7. The Dogs are right back at it Saturday night as they honour Paul Cyr and host the Nanaimo Clippers at the Dog Pound for the first meeting between the teams this season.
Team Sites
Follow the BCHL
