Game Recap: Bulldogs Take 3:0 Series Lead

Parkhill, ON – The Bulldogs emerged victorious, on the road, over the North Middlesex Stars by way of a 4-0 final on Thursday evening from Parkhill. With the win, the Dogs take a commanding 3:0 series lead heading into Saturday night’s Game 4 tilt back in Parkhill. Goals from Nick Mazza, Deacon Kroesbergen (Jaxon Moorhouse), Justin Zirul (Jack Uniac, Logan Forster), and Ben Landers (Nolan Griffiths, Logan Gianelli) secured the important Game 3 victory for the away side. In addition to the goals and assists, as he’s been all series, Aiden Berry was impressive in the crease in stopping 27 of 27 peppered his way to earn the win and shutout.

Period 1: The lone goal of the first period came via veteran forward Nick Mazza at exactly 17:00. Mazza would emerge from a scramble in the slot on the far side, create space for himself at the top the faceoff circle, turn, and fire the puck from an odd angle through three Stars and two Bulldogs which blurred the vision of Sean Shanahan in the Stars goal. The puck found the back of the net and the away side took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Period 2: Deacon Kroesbergen added his second goal of the post-season at 6:12 of the middle frame to push the Dogs ahead 2-0. The play started in the neutral zone where Jaxon Moorhouse made life difficult for a pair of Stars before chipping the puck ahead to a curling Kroesbergen. With momentum on his side, Kroesbergen circled up ice alongside Noah Cameron to engage in a 2-on-1 as the pair crossed the offensive blueline. Kroesbergen would “hold and fire” the puck short-side on Shanahan.

At 13:39 of the middle frame, Justin Zirul pounced on a free puck in front of the North Middlesex goal, via the man-advantage, to keep the good times rolling for the Dogs. The play began at the point as Forster and Uniac played catch across the blueline. Uniac would eventually step into the middle of the ice and let a wrist-shot fly from the point which was initially saved by Shanahan. The puck bounced off the netminder and into the sights of Zirul who ushered the puck into the back of the net via the backhand.

Period 3: Ben Landers fired home his second of the playoffs at 11:26 of the final frame to put the Dogs up by four. The play began in neutral ice as Logan Gianelli chipped the puck forward to a rushing Nolan Griffiths and the over-aged defenseman found himself in the offensive corner. Weighing his options, Griffiths elected to move the puck back to the point where Landers was waiting. From there, Landers would send a quick wrist-shot towards the goal and find the top corner over the blocker shoulder of Shanahan.

Game Report

Up Next: Saturday, March 1 at North Middlesex (Game 4)

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Mount Brydges Bulldogs Media

Photo Credit: Kassy Howard – KPH Photography