The Bulldogs got off to a good start on Saturday when the hosted the Grizzlies for their final game before the Christmas break, taking a 1-0 lead just over six minutes into the game on the power play as Jared Wilson showed good patience at the point before blasting one home past the stick side of Michael Stiliadis. Assists on the play went to Matt Hansen and Tryg Strand at 6:20 of the first. The celebration didn’t last long as the Grizzlies tied it just 13 seconds later when the Fitzgerald triplets hooked up, as Gerry threw a pass out of the right corner back-door onto the tape of Myles. Jay Deo would make a highlight reel save going post to post to keep the first attempt out, but he didn’t get help on the rebound as Myles poked it home. Leo Fitzgerald also picked up an assist at 6:33 of the first.
The Dogs got into penalty trouble to end the first that continued through the second as Hunter Stewart retaliated to a cross-check to to the back of the neck with a spear on Zach Urban that resulted in Stewart picking up a four-minute double minor. The Bulldogs would end up down a man again after the whistle later in the period as Marlon Sabo retaliated to a slash to the back of legs by Gerry Fitzgerald. Sabo would get into it with Gerry, while Jaden Schmeisser skated all the way from the blue line after the whistle to get his hands in Sabo’s face. The result would be an extra penalty to Sabo, which resulted in a 2-1 Grizzlies lead just 21 seconds into the power play as the Fitzgerald’s hooked up again with Myles scoring his second of the game on a cross-crease feed set up by Gerry and Leo at 14:13 for a 2-1 Grizzlies lead after two periods.
The Bulldogs began the third period on the power play, but they appeared flat while the Grizzlies appeared energized as the Dogs failed to threaten and the frustration in the building grew. The score stayed the same until the back half of the third period when the Dogs were the benefit of the Grizzlies drawing the official’s ire, taking a bench minor after already picking up a minor penalty resulting in a full two minute 5 on 3 power play. The Dogs wouldn’t score on the power play, but they did score just one second after both penalties elapsed when Manny Gialedakis found Matt Hansen out front off a Bo Pellah pass that Hansen roofed from in tight. Tryg Strand and Gialedakis would pick up the assists at 11:25 of the third to tie the game at 2-2. The score would stay that way with the Dogs penalty killers holding the fort when the Grizzlies went to the power play with just over four minutes to go in regulation. The Grizzlies would get the winner 1:49 into the first overtime after the Bulldogs were denied a change by the referee, forcing the same line to come back to the ice. They wouldn’t be on the ice long as the Grizzlies ended the game when Jaden Schmeisser used the defenceman – actually a forward as a screen and blew a slap shot past the stick-side of Jay Deo for the game winner with Cam Lawson picking up the only assist for the 3-2 final.
Final shots favoured the Grizzlies 30-28 with Jay Deo taking the loss while Michael Stiliadis picked up the win. The Bulldogs went 1 for 8 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 1 for 7.
The Dogs next see action December 29th in Powell River before returning home to host the Capitals on New Year Eve. Have a save and fun Holiday break!
