Bulldogs shutout Crusaders in Game 5
The Blackfalds Bulldogs shut out the Sherwood Park Crusaders 4-0 for the second time this series on Friday night.
This time, the shutout came with the Bulldogs back against the wall as they trailed 3-1 in the series going into Game 5.
Nicholas DiPaolo opened the scoring for the Bulldogs just 1:59 into the game, scoring against his former club. Bulldogs’ defenceman Evan Stastny carried the puck down the right-side boards from the blue line to behind the net and sent a pass in front for DiPaolo to put in the back of the net. Thomas Neu picked up a secondary assist on the goal.
Almost six minutes later, DiPaolo scored again. Bulldogs’ defenceman Krisjanis Sarts passed the puck up the ice to Danny Hussa, who redirected it to Neu, who carried it into the zone. Neu would send a saucer pass to DiPaolo, who continued to drive to the net and beat the Crusaders’ netminder Filip Vavro with a backhand goal.
The Bulldogs held a 2-0 lead after the first period with shots on goal even at 8 aside.
In the second period, Nikita Ivashchenko would score his first of the playoffs on the power play. Nikita Meshcheryakov set things up on the right side by passing the puck to Dean Toskos on the goal line, who found Ivashchenko cutting down the left side for a back-door finish. That put the Bulldogs up 3-0 at the 18:06 mark of the second period.
Shots on goal were 6-2 in favour of the Bulldogs in the second period.
In the third period, Ivashchenko would score again on the power play. This time, it was a 4-on-3 power play that Meshcheryakov passed to the left side for Noah Mertz, who would send it to Ivashchenko, who walked in from the point to the top of the faceoff circle and fired it by Vavro to make it 4-0. That goal came at the 13:53 mark of the third period.
The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders 10-7 in the third period and 24-17 in the game. Olivér Király picked up his second shutout of the series, making 17 saves and earning first star of the game honours. DiPaolo and Ivashchenko were named second and third stars, respectively, for their 2-goal games.
The Bulldogs went 2/5 on the power play after only having 1 power play goal in the series going into the game. The Crusaders went 0/4 on their opportunities.
The series now shifts back to Sherwood Park for Game 6 on Sunday at 6 p.m., with the Bulldogs looking to tie the series and force Game 7 at home.
