The Bulldogs got off to a good start with an early lead in shots on goal as they were skating well early. It was the Clippers instead finding the net with a goal against the flow of play as the Dogs were caught pressing in the offensive zone. The Clippers would race up ice on a 2 on 1 rush finished off by the puck carrier Reid Sturos as he put a quick release off the post glove side and in at 7:46 with Trevor Fitzgerald picking up the only assist. The Dogs would answer back in short order as Evan Anderson dumped the puck into the Nanaimo zone and forced a turnover that was picked up by Kurt Gosselin who walked in on a breakaway down the slot where he also put a quick release off the post and in, glove side on Jayson Argue. The goal was unassisted at 9:40 of the first. The Bulldogs would build the lead to 2-1 in the dying seconds of the first on a goal I described as a “Port Alberni special” as Jared Wilson led the rush up ice before throwing a shot on net that resulted in a rebound behind the net. The loose puck was found by Zach Funk who put a pass out front to Nick Kerr who had a high, hard one stopped by Argue. Dylan Haugen would take three or four whacks at it from the paint before forcing it into the back of the net for a 2-1 Dogs lead after one at the 19:41 mark.
The Dogs built the lead to 3-1 just 3:56 into the second when they were on the attack in the Nanaimo end as Jared Crosson walked in off the blue line and absolutely ripped a Manny Gialedakis pass top corner, short-side on Argue. Evan Tironese also picked up an assist at 3:56 of the second on the first of Crosson’s career. The Clippers would have their fair share of chances to get back in the game but once again Jay Deo was a rock, coming up with several huge saves to protect the lead. At the other end the lead was 4-1 when Zach Funk won a faceoff that was helped back to the line by Dylan Haugen onto the tape of Marc Eremenko where he blasted a top corner slap shot, far side on Argue at 11:52 of the second for his first career goal.
The third period saw the Dogs build the lead to 5-1 as a power play had just elapsed when Ryan Lough found his own rebound in tight and roofed it on the backhand with assists to Jared Wilson and Manny Gialedakis. The Clippers would become frustrated as the time ticked away and the result was a 5 on 3 power play for the Dogs that they connected on when Chris Tracy deflected a Chase Van Allen shot into the top corner at 12:45 of the third to make it 6-1 with Wilson picking up another assist on the play. Just 12 seconds later it was 7-1 Dogs, again on the power play when Manny Gialedakis found an end-board bounce off a Wilson shot that he deposited into the open net before Argue could get back to the post. Evan Tironese also added an assist on the play at 12:57, just twelve seconds later. The Clippers would add a late one that was somewhat funny in that it hit the blocker of Deo and appeared to roll up his shoulder before falling into the back of the net with just 13 seconds left on the clock to make it a 7-2 final from Brendan Taylor and Greg Trichilo.
Final shots favoured the Clippers 37-33 with Jay Deo picking up the win while Jayson Argue took the loss. I had the Dogs (unofficially) at 2 for 6 while the Clippers went 0 for 3. The two teams go at it again Saturday night at the Dog Pound, before the Dogs head to Victoria Sunday afternoon to face the Grizzlies.
Team Sites
Follow the BCHL
