The Bulldogs opened up the Island Finals Friday by heading down Island to meet the Grizzlies in Victoria. Both teams looked like they might have been feeling the previous 5 games in 6 days, or they might have just been feeling each other out as there wasn’t much in the way of pace or scoring chances early. The Bulldogs would earn the first power play chance of the game but looked less than impressive on it, failing to gain the Grizzlies zone cleanly early in the advantage and then failing to keep the puck in resulting in a shorthanded breakaway for Pearce Eviston where he went backhand past the blocker of Deo at 7:10 of the first to make it 1-0 with David Walchuk picking up an assist. The Grizzlies then went to a power play of their own shortly afterwards where they connected on a pretty set up as Keyler Bruce found Myles Fitzgerald at the left side of the net where he went cross-crease for Leo Fitzgerald who one-timed it home before Deo could get over to make it 2-0 at 12:15 of the first. The Bulldogs battled back to make it a 2-1 game 3:02 later on a fortunate bounce as Chase Van Allen fed the puck back to the line to Kurt Gosselin who put a shot wide of the net that hit the end boards, bounced back, and hit Brady Rouleau and went in. Van Allen was credited with the goal, unassisted; at 15:17 of the first for a 2-1 Grizzlies lead after one.
The second was a tough one for the Bulldogs, as they struggled to get their game going and struggled against the Officiating, as the Grizzlies scored a controversial goal to go up 3-1 early in the second as Chris Albertini went to the net and half body checked both Marlon Sabo and Jay Deo, knocking the Bulldog goalie out of the net, giving him absolutely no chance to make the save. The Bulldogs would complain, but neither Referee apparently saw the contact removing the goalie from the net. David Walchuk got credit for the goal, from Mitch Meek and Chris Albertini at 4:35 of the second. The Dogs wouldn’t earn any calls after the goal either, with the Grizzlies drawing the next four penalties throughout the period. They weren’t able to build on their lead though as Jay Deo and the penalty killers held the fort to keep it 3-1 Grizzlies after two.
The third period wore on as the Bulldogs struggled to get going and carry much of the play as they remained down 3-1 with 10 minutes to go in regulation. They kept battling though, finally making a game of it as Chase Van Allen wheeled the puck hard out of his own zone to centre ice before head-manning it to Hunter Stewart up the right wing. Stewart would battle past his check and gain the zone before finding Evan Tironese in the slot where he beat Rouleau with a quick release to the blocker side to make it a 3-2 with 7:44 to play in the third. The Bulldogs would battle hard and control the game for the bulk of the remainder of regulation and had several glorious chances to tie it but just couldn’t find the equalizer as time expired and the Grizzlies held on.
Final shots favoured the Grizzlies 35-18 with Jay Deo taking the loss and somehow not earning a star while Brady Rouleau picked up the win. The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 1 for 7 while also scoring once shorthanded.
