The Alberni Valley Bulldogs began their week of action Friday night as they hosted the Powell River Kings. With the Kings beating the Dogs 9-1 in their season opener, the Dogs had to be looking for revenge, and it certainly looked like it as they came flying out of the gate generating several great chances around the Kings net. They wouldn?t be able to connect on them though as Kings net minder Josh Watson came up with several highlight reel stops to keep it scoreless. The first goal of the game didn?t come until the late stages of the second when a weird one finally cracked the goose egg as Cody Rainaldi put a shot on goal that was stopped by Frank Slubowski. The puck would end up in the back of the net as it caromed off the shoulder of Slubowski, and into the jersey of Frank Riddle who was coming back to defend, only to have the puck hit him and go in as the Kings took a 1-0 lead 15:02 into the second. The Dogs would score an equally odd goal late in the period when David Dziurzynski forced a turnover in front of the King net that he handed off to Matt Hatch who finally beat Josh Watson low far corner for a 1-1 tie with just 37 seconds left in the period. The score would stay 2-1 through the third with the game being very tight checking. The Kings would score the eventual game winner after a faceoff win in the Dogs end, and a point shot through traffic that was stopped by Slubowski. The rebound was a problem though, as Carter Shinkaruk battled through the traffic to find it and swat it home to give the Kings a 2-1 lead with just 6:06 to play. Darcy Huisman and Cody Rainaldi picked up the helpers. The Dogs would push hard for the equalizer for the remainder of the game, but they couldn?t get a break around the Kings net to get the equalizer.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 28-25 with Josh Watson picking up the win and first star honours in the Kings net. Frank Slubowski picked up his first loss of the season for the Dogs. The Kings were 0 for 2 on the power play while the Dogs were 0 for 4.
Saturday marked the first meeting of the season between the Dogs and Clippers. Besides a plethora of power play chances and both goalies being forced to come up with a couple of saves the first period was relatively uneventful. The second period was where all the games scoring would come. Curtis Tonello got the Dogs on the board first with a low slap shot from the left point on the power play 6:18 in. Johnny Rogic and Casey Bailey (with his first career point) picked up the assists. This would seem to give the Dogs some momentum as they starting taking the body more and generating more chances. The Clippers would go back to the penalty box after a roughing after the whistle type penalty and the Dogs made them pay again with another power play marker as David Dziurzynski walked around the top of the right circle before firing a low shot on goal that was tipped in by Mitch MacMillan as it was 2-0 Dogs with 11:39 gone in the second. Mark MacMillan also picked up an assist on the play. The game scoring would be complete in the final minute of the period as Luke Fenske scored his first career goal with a quick shot from the left point that found its way in through traffic for a 3-0 Dogs lead after two periods. Assists on the play went to Mitch MacMillan and Johnny Rogic. The third period saw the Clippers push hard to break Frank Slubowski?s shutout bid, outshooting the Dogs 11-4 but they couldn?t find the net as the Dogs won by a final of 3-0, their first shutout of the Clippers since the 2004-2005 season.
Final shots favoured Nanaimo 27-26 with Loic Boivin taking the loss in net and Frank Slubowski getting the win, first first career shutout, and first star honours. The Dogs were 2 for 12 on the power play while the Clippers were 0 for 8.
Next up for the Dogs ? four in a row on the road, starting Tuesday at the Bear Mountain Arena.
Weekend Recap
