Photo courtesy of Dave Watling Photography
Despite outshooting the Canucks 43-35, the Blackfalds Bulldogs came up short 4-2 Tuesday evening in Calgary.
The Canucks opened the scoring 10:29 into the second on the power play when Blake Setter found the back of the net. The Canucks took a 2-0 advantage about four minutes later following a Matt Corbet marker. The Bulldogs got on the board 15:38 into the middle frame when Ryan Johnson ripped home his second of the season on the man advantage, which made it a 2-1 game.
Brock Mueller restored the two-goal lead for Calgary 2:32 into the third on the power play. Blackfalds’ Kaiden Bugera sent a seeing-eye shot into the back of the net with just 35 seconds remaining, making it a one-goal game. It was Bugera’s first goal in the AJHL. Calgary added an empty-netter with just 20 seconds left in the third to seal the win.
Lucas Massie made 31 saves in the loss, while Calgary’s Ian Mills recorded a 41-save win at the other end of the ice.
With the loss, the Bulldogs are now 2-2 on the season. They will look to rebound on Friday in Brooks at the AJHL Showcase when they meet the Fort McMurray Oil Barons at 1:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs conclude their weekend Saturday in Brooks against the Bonnyville Pontiacs.