The Bulldogs finished their six game road trip by visiting the Grizzlies Saturday night in Victoria. The Dogs were ready to play the game, out several minutes before the opening puck drop but apparently the Grizzlies were not as the Dogs were made to stand around for up to five minutes as the Grizzlies were late to come out to the ice to start the game, arriving at 7:19 for a 7:15 puck drop. The Dogs were understandably flat footed for the opening minutes of the game and it cost them as the Grizzlies went up 1-0 off a centering pass that was found out front by Cole Pickup and lifted high short side past Jay Deo. Assists went to Pearce Eviston and Kade Pilton at 3:18 of the first. The Dogs would get their feet going at the midway point of the period and started to get chances, drawing three penalties. They weren’t able to connect on several scrambles around the net however, with the Grizzlies up 1-0 after one with the shots tied at 6-6.
The second period saw the Grizzlies take a 2-0 lead early in the frame on the rush as Keyler Bruce walked down the right wing and put a low slap shot on net that was stopped by Jay Deo with his far pad. The rebound came right out to the slot where Leo Fitzgerald one-timed it home at the 2:47 mark. The Bulldogs would battled back just 2:02 later to get on the board on the power play as they moved the puck around well before Chase Van Allen put a shot on net from the top of the slot that found its way home past the glove of Brady Rouleau through traffic. Assists on the play went to Evan Tironese and Matt Hansen to make it a 2-1 game at 4:29 of the second. The Dogs would get in penalty trouble late in the period and spent the better part of it defending but they were able to hold the Grizzlies off the board to trail 2-1 after two, while being outshot 19-9.
The only goal of the third period came from the Grizzlies again on the rush as David Walchuk went to the net and took a pass in alone on Jay Deo where he deked and slid the puck home five hole to make it 3-1 with 12:48 to play in the third. The Dogs would get a late power play when David Mazurek was ejected for a taking a dirty run at Chase Van Allen and hitting him from behind. The Dogs pulled their goalie with three minutes and change to play but were unable to threaten on the advantage as the Grizzlies made the lead stand.
Final shots favoured the Grizzlies 28-18 with Jay Deo taking the loss while Brady Rouleau picked up the win. The Dogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 0 for 4.
