The Blackfalds Bulldogs were looking for a bounce-back effort in Game 4 against the Sherwood Park Crusaders. The Bulldogs would get the first goal of the game. Nicholas DiPaolo picked up a loose puck at centre ice when Danny Hussa joined him on the rush for a 2-on-0. DiPaolo slid the puck to a wide-open Hussa, who tapped it home to open the scoring at 8:18.
The Crusaders would get one back on the power play a minute later with Braeden O’Keefe scoring his second of the playoffs. Erik Kald and Kent Moors picked up the assists at the 9:17 mark.
Shots on goal were nearly even, with the Bulldogs having a 9-8 edge.
In the second, O’Keefe would add his second of the game at 7:26 with Maxime Ly picking up the lone assist. Shortly after, O’Keefe would score his third goal of the game at 9:19 with Joseph Sinclair and Michael Mikan getting the assists.
Before the period was out, the Bulldogs would respond. Dean Toskos ran a give-and-go with Noah Mertz entering the offensive zone for Toskos to pick up his second goal of the postseason. Nikita Meshcheryakov picked up the secondary assist on the goal at 18:35.
The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders in the frame 16-8.
In the third period, the Crusaders would tack on another goal after their power play expired. Bode Sampair would score with Brant Romaniuk and Ryan White picking up the assists at the 6:55 marker. Before the period was out, Maxime Ly would add an empty-netter at 19:06 with O’Keefe picking up an assist for his fourth point of the night.
The Bulldogs outshot the Crusaders 37-23 in the game with a third-period margin of 12-7. Blackfalds was unable to score on its six power play opportunities while Sherwood Park scored on one of its 5.
The series resumes Friday night in Blackfalds at the Eagle Builders Centre for a do-or-die Game 5 as the Crusaders hold a 3-1 series lead.
Get your tickets on showpass. Puck drop is at 7 pm.
