The Bulldogs kicked off last week by hitting the road for the first time this season, as they visited the Island Savings Centre, AKA the ?Big Stick? in Duncan and the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Dogs would go to the penalty kill early in the game and it appeared that they ended up taking momentum out of it, not allowing the Capitals to get set up and generate any chances. The Dogs would then go to the power play themselves, and good hard work and plenty of shots at the net resulted in a 1-0 lead when Warren Muir scored his first of the season as he tipped a Chris Moulson shot from the right circle over the shoulder of Chris Rawlings at the 6:56 mark of the first. Brett Mohler also picked up an assist on the play but if anything this was a total team effort with all five players on the ice playing a part. The Caps would eventually get into the game themselves after they killed off a Bulldog power play minutes later. It was then the Dogs turn to defend as the Caps put a ton of pressure of Matthew Wong, who was outstanding to hold the 1-0 lead after one period of play as the Dogs killed off back to back power plays for the Caps. The second period the Dogs came out looking like a different team, as the Caps carried the play. After several failed attempts to get the puck out of their own end, it would end up in the back of the Bulldog net as Chris Zaires fed the puck behind the net to Kevin Walrod who in turn found Brett Corcoran on the doorstep where he found his own rebound to put it past Matthew Wong for a 1-1 tie just 2:28 into the period. The score would stay 1-1 for the rest of the second, mostly due to the solid play of Matthew Wong and Chris Rawlings. With each team getting several power play chances, including the Bulldogs going on a two man advantage to end the second where they were unable to find the net. The third period continued much the same way as the second played out, with both teams getting ample opportunities to score but neither team able to beat the goaltenders. The Bulldogs would go to a power play in the late stages and they were unable to find the net as Chris Rawlings and the Caps penalty killers held the fort. Minutes later the Caps would then go to a power play of their own where they scored the game winner with just 4:26 to play when Mitch MacMillan deflected a Spencer Fraipont point shot past Matthew Wong. Brett Corcoran would pick up the second assist for getting the puck back to the point. The Dogs were unable to find the equalizer in the dying minutes as the Capitals didn?t give up much.
This was a great game to watch, and no doubt a tough game to lose for the Dogs as they fought hard and it was anyone?s game until the dying minutes. In the end it was a missed power play chance and a chance the Capitals capitalized on that was the difference. Final shots favoured the Caps 35-30 with Chris Rawlings and Matthew Wong being the goalies of record. The Bulldogs were 1 for 7 on the power play while the Caps were also 1 for 7.
Saturday the Bulldogs headed back down Island again to meet the Victoria Grizzlies for the second time this season. After the Grizzlies spoiled the Dogs home opener with a 5-1 win, the Dogs hoped to do the same as the Grizzlies played at home for the first time after five games to open the season on the road. The Grizzlies would draw first blood to lead 1-0 after one as a turnover at the Bulldog blue line with the forwards flying the zone resulted in an odd-man chance down low for the Grizzlies that they made good on as Derek Lee found Justin Courtnall in the slot where he slid the puck through Matthew Wong 8:14 into the period. The Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead at the 3:37 mark of the second when they had the Dogs hemmed in their zone for an extended period. The puck ended up back at the line for Sean Robertson, who let a one timer fly that ended up hitting traffic in front before landing as a gift on the stick of Jonathan Milhouse who fired a wrist shot into the open side. Lee Baldwin picked up the second assist. The Dogs fired back in a hurry to get back in the game though, as just 17 seconds later Branden Gracel jammed in a rebound in front as Chris Moulson threw the puck at the net for a 2-1 score at the 3:54 mark of the second. The Grizzlies would again hem the Dogs in their end and again they found the back of the net as Brian Nugent was left wide open off the back post where he slapped a one timer home from Lee Baldwin and Mike Hammond at the 8:05 mark to make it 3-1. Things weren?t looking good for the Dogs moments later when the Grizzlies went to a power play. They would end up controlling the puck in the Dogs zone for almost the full two minutes, getting at least 10 shots on Matthew Wong who was incredible in holding the fort as the Dogs killed it off. The efforts of Wong seemed to inspire his teammates, as minutes later Evan Witt fired a shot that snuck through the legs of Anthony Grieco. James Kerr would be rewarded for driving the net, as he tapped the loose puck home for a 3-2 Victoria lead at the 10:54 mark. Just short of four minutes later the Dogs completed the comeback when Josh Pineiro fed Evan Witt over the blue line where the put a low hard shot on goal that resulted in a fat rebound for Ben Payne driving the net. Payne would put a shot into the open side before Grieco was able to get over for a 3-3 tie at the 14:45 mark of the second. The score would stay tied throughout the remainder of regulation, with both goalies forced to come up with some big saves. The most notable was Matthew Wong sprawling to rob Evan Pighin on the doorstep in the dying minutes. It appeared at several times throughout the period that the whistle had been put away by the referee, but with just 10 seconds left in regulation the Dogs were penalized. They would manage to hold the fort to force overtime and secure a crucial single point, but in OT the Grizzlies scored the winner when Justin Courtnall put a wrist shot on goal that appeared to hit something and find its way past Wong for the 4-3 final at the 58 second mark of overtime. Lee Baldwin and Evan Pighin picked up the assists on the play.
The Grizzlies were 1 for 5 on the power play while the Dogs were 0 for 1. Shots favoured Victoria 43-19 with Matthew Wong and Anthony Grieco being the goalies of record. Wong was awarded the first star of the game.
If the Dogs learned anything over the two games this weekend it has to be that they are more than capable of playing with their division rivals. While two losses wasn?t what the goal obviously was, the Dogs have nothing to hang their heads about with both games being close and hard fought and decided late.
Next up for the Dogs is their first three game week of the season. Quesnel comes to town Thursday before the Dogs travel to Nanaimo to face the Clippers for the first time this season Friday. The Dogs are back home to finish the week on Saturday night as they host the Powell River Kings for the second time already.
