The Bulldogs opened up their weekend when they visited the Island Savings Centre in Duncan to take on the Capitals on Friday night. The Dogs got off to a good start with good energy and scoring chances early, but it was the Capitals who had the best chance to find the scoreboard when they went to a 5 on 3 power play in the first period for over a minute. The Dogs would kill the penalty masterfully, breaking up passes and winning battles and races to pucks as they didn?t allow a shot on net as the score remained 0-0 after one with the Dogs leading the shots 9-4. There would be no scoring in the second with again both goaltenders standing tall with Frank Slubowski making the save of the period on a 2 on 1 rush to rob Clayton Chessa to keep it at zeroes after forty minutes. The Dogs would finally break the deadlock early in the third period when they made the Caps pay for an undisciplined penalty when Brandon Adams took a pass from Ryan Renz and walked to the top of the right circle where he ripped one through Derek Dun as Trent Dorais provided the screen. Ryan Renz picked up the only assist on the power play marker 2:31 into the third. The Dogs would have several great chances to build their lead but Derek Dun held the fort through several scrambles to give the Caps a chance to get back into it. The Dogs would make the lead stand though with a combination of solid defensive play and great goaltending as the Caps couldn?t find the equalizer before time ran out.
Shots favoured the Dogs 30-24 with Frank Slubowski picking up the win, his first shutout of the season, and second star honours. Derek Dun took the loss while earning third star honours. The Dogs went 1 for 4 on the power play while the Caps went 1 for 5.
Saturday night the Dogs hosted the #1 team in the BCHL and the #2 Ranked Team in the Nation in the Powell River Kings. The Kings came out of the gate a step ahead of the Dogs getting plenty of pucks at the net early. They would take a 1-0 lead after a great first save by Frank Slubowski when Steven Schmidt potted the rebound from the top of the crease. Scott Renner and Mike Sones picked up the assists 9:02 into the first. The Kings would look for more with a 5 on 3 power play of over a minute in duration but Frank Slubowski and the Dogs penalty kill stood tall to kill it off. The Dogs would get going later in the period with several good chances on the power play but the Kings led 1-0 after one outshooting the Dogs 16-7. The Dogs came out with a better start in the second, tying the game up at 1-1 just seven seconds into a power play chance as Tyler Berkholtz one-timed a perfect cross-crease pass from Sam Mitchell home before Sean Maguire could get over to tie it at 1-1. Casey Bailey also picked up an assist 2:41 into the second. The Dogs would have a glorious chance to go up 2-1 just seconds later as Colton Sobchak walked in alone on goal but he couldn?t beat Maguire. The Kings took a 2-1 lead themselves just five minutes later when Andrew Pettitt walked out of the left corner and put a perfect shot high short-side on Slubowski. Carter Shinkaruk and Brendan Forbes picked up the helpers 7:34 into the second. Just five minutes later it was 3-1 Kings as they struck just after a Bulldog penalty elapsed as Jon Jutzi scored a beauty walking to the net down the right wing where he put a perfect backhand top shelf on Slubowski. Chad Niddery and Craig Dalrymple picked up the assists at the 12:05 mark as the Kings led 3-1 after two. The Dogs would push hard late in the third to try and get back into it but they couldn?t bury any of their chances around the net before the Kings iced it into an empty net with Matt Garbowski getting the goal from Chad Niddery and Mike Sones with 1:22 to play for the 4-1 final.
Final shots favoured the Kings 38-29 with Sean Maguire picking up the win and first star honours while Frank Slubowski took the loss. The Dogs went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 5.
Up next for the Dogs is another three-game week as they visit the Nanaimo Clippers Wednesday before returning home Thursday to host the Langley Chiefs. The Dogs have Friday night off before they host the Coquitlam Express Saturday night on ?Teddy Bear Toss? night at the Dog Pound. Don?t forget to catch ?Around the Pound? the Bulldog Talk Show on 93.3 The Peak FM Monday night from 6pm to 7pm.
