The Spruce Grove Saints clawed back from a two-goal deficit but a late goal by the Bulldogs gave the home side a 4-3 victory in Blackfalds on Friday night at the Eagle Builders Centre.
Despite being sent to the penalty kill four times in the opening period, the Saints took the lead and opening the scoring in the game while shorthanded and came courtesy of Ben Buckley, who collected his second goal of the season. Max Holland made a strong advancement into the offensive zone and fed a pass from the left wing to the front of the net as Buckley chipped the puck over the left shoulder of Carson Mertz in the Bulldogs net to give Spruce Grove the advantage.
On the same power play, the Bulldogs evened the score moments later and tied the game at 1-1 as Nick DiPaolo buried on the power play to level the game. DiPaolo saw his shot from the right face-off circle squeak through the legs of Joseph Quintilio to make the game 1-1.
The Saints penalty kill came up in a big way in the opening period in killing off three of the four Blackfalds power plays while Quintilio stood tall with 14 saves through the opening 20 minutes of action.
Blackfalds was quick to strike in the opening part of the 2nd period, scoring twice in the opening 2:08, and two times in 43 seconds, to get a hold of their first lead of the hockey game. Luke Dahlen began the scoring in the 2nd frame for the Bulldogs, collecting his league-leading 17th goal of the season before it was DiPaolo who once again added to the Bulldogs lead with his second goal of the night.
The Saints found their legs later in the period and got within a goal of the Bulldogs with Brandon Funk earning his 8th goal of the season to cut the deficit to one. A James Richards shot was knocked down in front of the goal before Funk collected the rebound and deposited the puck behind Mertz to get the goal that got the Saints within a marker.
DiPaolo had a terrific look at a hat-trick goal in the 2nd period with a late frame penalty shot attempt, being hauled down on a breakaway but after a few dangles toward the net, he had his shot go off the left post and stay out to keep the game at 3-2 heading into the 3rd period.
The Saints were resilient and found a way to tie the game in the final period as Carson Lloyd pushed the game even with his 4th goal of the season. Lloyd collected the puck at the right point and drifted a shot through traffic that had eyes for the back of the net past the glove side of Mertz to get the game even at 3-3.
A late power play for the Bulldogs helped them to the late lead and secured the victory after Quintilio made a couple of huge saves, it was Matthew Croxall who buried a rebound at the front of the net with 91 seconds remaining in the game to give Blackfalds a 4-3 advantage and stick for the eventual final.
Quintilio turned aside 28 of the 32 shots thrown his way in his 4th loss of the season while Mertz earned his 8th win of the year, making 22 saves on 25 shots.
The Saints and Bulldogs will meet again on Sunday afternoon in Spruce Grove as the Saints will honour the 1975 Mets Centennial Cup champion team with a 2:00 PM puck drop at Thompson Family Arena. Fans are encouraged to stick around after the game for a Skate with the Saints. Tickets are available for purchase online at tickets.sgsaints.ca.
