The Bulldogs travelled to Victoria Sunday night for Monday night’s Game 3 but the move to head down early certainly didn’t seem to pay dividends early as they were flat for the better part of the first period and weren’t in the game for the most part. The Grizzlies ran up an early 13-0 lead in shots that led to a 1-0 lead just 14 seconds into a power play opportunity as Myles Fitzgerald put a perfect wrist shot top corner, glove side on Jay Deo from the top of the left circle. Assists went to DJ Jones and Pearce Eviston at 13:31. The Grizzlies would build the lead to 2-0 when two Bulldog defenders went to the same man behind the net and both fell down, resulting in a wide open man in front in Pearce Eviston who one-timed a Myles Powell centering feed past the blocker of Jay Deo. Blake Thompson also picked up an assist at 18:03 of the first. When the Dogs had opportunites to get the puck on net early, they elected to pass – it took until the 4:45 left in the first for the Dogs get their first shot, and it was certainly a good one as Manny Gialedakis was sent in on a breakaway but Brady Rouleau came up with the save as the Grizzlies led 2-0 after one and led the shots 15-5.
The Bulldogs showed much more in the way of urgency and drive in the second period, not looking at all like the team that played the first period. They would battle hard to get on the board, doing so while shorthanded as Teal Burns chased a loose puck down in the Grizzlies zone and put a perfect pass to a streaking Matt Hansen who went top corner, glove side on Rouldeau to make it 2-1 at 10:40 of the second. Unfortunately the Dogs weren’t able to build on the momentum as the Grizzlies answered back just over a minute later on the power play as David Mazurek potted a rebound through the legs of Jay Deo after he had made a save on a Kade Pilton one-timer from the top of the point. Keyler Bruce also picked up an assist on the play at 11:45 of the second for a 3-1 Grizzlies lead after two periods.
A third period comeback wasn’t in the cards for the Bulldogs as they wouldn’t be able to generate much in the way of offence, only getting three pucks on net. The only goal of the period came just after the Dogs had killed a penalty off, as Myles Powell found a loose puck in the slot that he fired through the legs of Jay Deo. Assists on the play went to Zach Urban and DJ Jones at 7:23 of the third period to make it a 4-1 final.
Final shots favoured the Grizzlies 38-15 with Jay Deo taking the loss while Brady Rouleau picked up the win. The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 2 for 5. Game 4 is another must-win for the Bulldogs Tuesday night at the Dog Pound.
