Tanner Willick Plays Hero as Bulldogs Even Up Series
Photo credit: Madison Fox, Renegades Photography
Article: Aidan Serra
The Blackfalds Bulldogs and Drumheller Dragons went into their game two Saturday night knowing that this game could prove to be crucial; for Drumheller, a win would give them a 2-0 series lead going into two straight home games, whereas Blackfalds needed a win to split the first two games of the series.
Otto Hanson got the Bulldogs going early in the first period, capitalizing on a Dragons defensive zone turnover and firing a quick snap shot past the glove of Garrett Fuller to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the series. Drumheller responded in the second period to send the game into the third tied, with Vann Yuhas forcing home a rebound in front of the net to square the proceedings.
An early high-sticking double minor to the Bulldogs gave Drumheller a power play opportunity, and one they wouldn’t less pass them by, as a perfect Dylan Glinski cross-scene pass found Adam Raesler at the side of the net. Raesler turned home his first goal of the playoffs, giving the Dragons their first lead of the game. Just before the halfway point of the third, a perfect give-and-go between Brett Meerman and David Brandes set up Meerman for a chance in tight that he slid through the legs of Garrett Fuller to make it 2-2. Less than three minutes after the 2-2 goal, however, Jacob Goudreau sent a pass towards the goal and was deflected off a Bulldogs skate and in to make it 3-2 Drumheller. Down by one, Blackfalds managed to find a tying goal with 3:37 to go in the third, with Connor Dick taking a perfect pass from Layne Loomer and beating Fuller glove side to make it 3-3.
Going into overtime, Blackfalds was 0/4 on the man advantage on the night and hadn’t scored a power-play goal in the whole series. That changed in overtime, with Tanner Willick taking a pass from Brett Meerman and walking into space in the top of the slot to fire a perfect wrist shot high glove past Garrett Fuller and in to win the game for Blackfalds and tie the series 1-1. The Bulldogs and Dragons will take a series tie to Drumheller, where the two teams will play games three and four Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
