After several good saves by Matthew Wong to keep the game scoreless, the Chiefs found the net on an odd-man rush as Derek Grant fed Milos Gordic as he was driving the net down the right wing. Matthew Wong would appear to get a piece of the shot as he dove across the net, but it ended up trickling in for a 1-0 Chief lead with Derek Grant and Brad Goss picking up the assists at the 7:09 mark of the first. Moments after killing off back to back Bulldog power play chances, the Chiefs went up 2-0 as Mac Roy found a loose puck at centre and drove through the Dogs defence before sliding it through the five-hole of Wong. Colton Beck and Brad Bakken picked up the assists on the goal that came with just 47 seconds left in the first period. The Chiefs came out and built on lead in the second, making it 3-0 just 2:25 in on a play similar to their first goal as Colton Beck drove the net ahead of his check and re-directed a perfect pass from Marcus Watson into the top corner on Wong. Mac Roy also picked up an assist on the play. The Dogs would come out flying after the goal and had several glorious chances around the Chief net but they couldn?t beat Andrew Walsh. The Chiefs would make it 4-0 just past the halfway mark of the game as Derek Grant was set up right on the top of the crease by Brad Goss with a quick feed from behind the goal that he one-timed through the legs of Wong. Milos Gordic also assisted the play at the 10:23 mark of the second. The Chiefs would make it 5-0 in the third period as Mac Roy intercepted an errant pass in the Dogs zone and raced in alone on Matthew Wong where he put a shot off the arm of Wong and in. The goal was un-assisted at the 11:00 mark of the third. The Dogs would get on the board to spoil Andrew Walsh?s shutout bid just 57 seconds later as Evan Witt sent a pass from behind the goal to Jackson Garrett in the slot where he put a quick shot top corner glove side to make it 5-1. That would be as close as the Dogs would get though, as they couldn?t mount a comeback.
Final shots favoured Langley 33-28 with Andrew Walsh and Matthew Wong being the goalies of record. The Dogs were 0 for 4 on the power play while the Chiefs were 0 for 1.
Saturday the Dogs took to the ice in Burnaby for the second meeting this season between the two teams. The Express took a 1-0 lead 6:52 into the game when Reid Edmondson found a rebound in front after a great first save by Colin Rundell and banged it home. Assists on the play went to Brent Vandenberg and Max Grassi. The Dogs would tie it up later in the period on the power play as Curtis Tonello put a point shot wide from the left point that hit the end boards and came out the other side where Brett Mohler one-timed it into the open net. The goal came with 5:26 left in the first. The score stayed 1-1 until the late stages of the second when the Express went up 2-1 as Nathan Westover scored on a one timer from the top of the point on the power play that he put blocker side on Colin Rundell. Assists on the play went to Max Grassi and Reid Edmondson with just 2:16 left in the second. Moments earlier, the Dogs had a chance to go ahead as Sam Mitchell had a shorthanded breakaway chance. Unfortunately his shot would hit the post and stay out. The Dogs would tie it up before the period was out as Evan Witt found a loose puck on the top of the crease that he roofed over a fallen Richie Virtanen with just 11 seconds left in the period. Assists on the play went to Mitch MacMillan and Brett Mohler. The Express quickly erased that goal when the third period began as just 16 seconds in Garrick Perry was sent in alone on the breakaway and he made no mistake beating Rundell with a blocker side wrist shot. Brent Vandenberg and Nathan Westover picked up the assists on the play. The end of the third was certainly interesting as the Dogs were rewarded with a power play
chance as they pushed hard for the equalizer. Following the penalty, the Express would call their 30 second timeout to talk things over. The Dogs came out of the timeout with six players on the ice and Colin Rundell on the bench. As the Dogs appeared to try and make a player change, referee Chris Hahn immediately called them for delay of game, erasing the power play chance. The Dogs wouldn?t be denied though, as seconds later Mitch MacMillan put a sharp angle wrist shot on goal from the right side that went through the legs of Virtanen to tie the game at 3-3 with just 1:52 left in the third. Sam Mitchell picked up the only assist on the play. The Dogs would get the winner on a mad scramble in overtime, as Evan Witt eventually banged in a loose puck for his second of the game 2:42 into sudden death. Mitch MacMillan would pick up the only assist as he also had a crack at the loose puck.
Final shots favoured Burnaby 40-28, with Colin Rundell picking up the win and first star honours. Richie Virtanen took the loss. The Express were 1 for 7 on the power play while the Dogs were 1 for 3.
With two out of four points on the road, the Dogs now have two wins in their last three games. They try to keep things going when the Burnaby Express make their first visit of the season to the Dog Pound Thursday night. A preview will be posted later in the week.
