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Hammer’s Weekly Recap

The Dogs had just one game last week and it was a good one as they built up a 3-0 third period lead over the Cowichan Valley Capitals before holding off a late rally to win 3-2.

The Dogs took a 1-0 lead early in the game on the man advantage as Eric Fraser sent the puck to Ryan Corbiell for a one-timer from the right point. Chris Rawlings made a great first save kicking out his right toe, but the rebound was a problem as it was a fat one that ended up on the tape of Colin Phaneuf. Before Rawlings could recover, Phaneuf roofed it into the open net. The goal came 3:49 into the game. Later in the period, the Dogs would get in a pile of penalty trouble, taking three penalties in three minutes which resulted in the Capitals getting some 5 on 3 time. Through great goaltending from Colin Rundell and plenty of shot blocks the Dogs would kill the penalties off, and then just seconds later they made it 2-0 as Evan Witt one-timed a perfect backdoor pass from Brett Mohler. Mitch MacMillan also picked up an assist on the scoring play with 3:19 left in the first. The penalties would cool down in the second, and so would the scoring, as neither team could find the net with the Dogs taking their 2-0 lead into the final 20 minutes. The insurance marker would come just over six minutes into the third period as Ryan Corbiell made a great read at the red line when he stepped up to break up a pass and then found Chris Moulson going the other way. Moulson would gain the Capitals blue line up the left wing before finding Brian Kang with a rink wide pass. The former Capital would end up scoring the eventual game winner with a perfect shot far-side high on Chris Rawlings that bounced off the post and went in as it was 3-0 Dogs at the 6:07 mark of the third. The Capitals would then end up in a pile of penalty trouble, going down two men on several occasions. However, the Caps seemed to play their best hockey of the game down three goals and two players as the Dogs couldn?t generate much on the 5 on 3?s. It would be the Capitals finding the net shorthanded as Curtis Gedig stole the puck in his own zone and raced down the ice on the shorthanded breakaway where he went backhand-five hole on Rundell to get the Caps on the board and trim the gap to 3-1 with 7:41 to play. Nick Anderson and Cody Adams picked up the assists on the play. The Dogs did a good job to not give up much in the way of offense after that, until Zack Currie hammered a point shot home from the top of the blue line on a 6 on 4 advantage with 1:04 to play to make it a one goal game at 3-2 to set up a thrilling finish. Taylor Holst and Alex Gellert picked up the assists. The Caps would get the goalie out again to push for the equalizer, but they couldn?t beat Rundell as time expired.       

Final shots favoured Cowichan 39-36 with Colin Rundell picking up the win and first star honours in goal. Chris Rawlings took the loss. The Dogs were 1 for 11 on the power play while the Capitals were 1 for 9. They also scored once shorthanded.

The win was a good way to bounce back for the Dogs after a tough ride the weekend before. With the victory the Dogs snapped a 3 game losing streak. They have a busy weekend coming up with Merritt in town Thursday for the lone meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Capitals are back at the Pound Saturday, before the Dogs hit the road Sunday afternoon to visit the Clippers at the Frank Crane Arena.