Photo credit: RHC photo / Rob Raincock
The Blackfalds Bulldogs and Drumheller Dragons have a spot in the South division final to play for, and game one was the start of their journey. Drumheller’s 2022 playoff campaign ended at this stage, with a four-games to-two series loss to Okotoks, whereas Blackfalds’ first-round win over the Calgary Canucks marked their first-ever series win, meaning Friday night would be the first second-round game in franchise history.
Drumheller’s special teams dominance started early and lasted the entirety of game one, with two first-period power plays converting just 11 seconds into either of them. First, Dylan Glinski found a loose puck at the side of Matthew Hennessey’s net to turn it past the Bulldogs goaltender and make it 1-0. Cyle Clayton scored just eight minutes later on a point shot that made it a 2-0 game. Garrett Fuller stood tall in Drumheller’s crease, making 15 stellar first-period saves including numerous highlight-reel stops.
Just as they did at the start of the first period, Drumheller started the second in a productive manner, scoring early through defenseman Tate Yule. Blackfalds pushed back hard throughout the second but were matched every time they put a goal on the board. Jason Siedem, Tyler Teasdale, and Connor Dick all scored second-period goals for Blackfalds but a Ty Daneault pair and one from Vann Yuhas gave Drumheller a 6-3 lead through two.
Just as a Bulldogs penalty was expiring, Ethan Casper put a shot through traffic and through Matthew Hennessey, giving Drumheller a 7-3 lead early in the third. Blackfalds pushed hard for the last 17 minutes of the third, notching a pair of goals through Tyler Wallace and Brendan Ross, but Dylan Glinski iced the game into the empty net to give the Dragons an 8-5 game one win. Blackfalds looks to bounce back tonight, hosting the Dragons for game two, hoping to tie the series 1-1 going back to Drumheller.