Bulldogs pick up road win by slaying the Dragons
LEADING MAN: Paul Lane scored a hat-trick for the Bulldogs in Sunday’s 10-6 win at Deeside Dragons 2. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
PAUL LANE led Bradford Bulldogs to their second victory of the NIHL North Two (Laidler) campaign - scoring a hat-trick in a 10-6 win at Deeside Dragons 2.
The Bulldogs’ first road win of the season continued the promising form shown in recent weeks, building on the points earned in overtime defeats to Coventry and Altrincham.
Defenceman Joe Howie weighed in with two goals, while Aaron Jordan, Oliver Massey, Rocco Mallon, Kacper Andukianiec and Jared Knowles also found the net.
At the other end, Jack Mickevicus earned his stripes in turning away 30 of the 36 shots on his net.
The Bulldogs had to keep their foot on the gas throughout the entire 60 minutes, something made clear in a keenly-contested first period which they edged 3-2.
DOUBLE DELIGHT: Defenceman Joe Howie weighed in with two goals for the Bulldogs. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints
The visitors got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind to a strike from James Shaw with just 41 seconds on the clock.
Lane made his first significant contribution when he fired home his first-ever goal for the Bulldogs to level matters at 3.15, the visitors’ lead increased 86 seconds later when Aaron Jordan beat netminder Finn Ogden.
The Dragons were quick to respond to going behind themselves when Cameron Kushnirenko levelled at 5.53.
The game eventually settled down and it was a power play opportunity for the Bulldogs which produced the next goal, Howie edging his team ahead once more at 16.43.
The teams continued to trade goals in the second period, Oliver Massey making it 4-2 to Bradford before Shaw’s second made it a one goal game again just before the halfway mark.
Howie then grabbed a second for himself at 34.37 but, with just 23 seconds of the period remaining, Stewart Cutting again cut the deficit to just the one goal.
It was in the first five minutes or so of the third period where the game was effectively decided, however, the Bulldogs scoring three goals on the power play.
Lane doubled his tally at 41.08 then, after Karl Bacon took a slashing call to add to his tripping penalty at the start of the period, Rocco Mallon made it 7-4 on the man advantage.
Kacper Andrukianiec strengthened the Bulldogs’ grip on the game when he fired home at 45.06.
The Dragons gave themselves hope of a comeback when Noah Percival and Daniels Fadejevs found the net, but shorthanded strikes from Jared Knowles at 51.33 and - with his hat-trick marker - Lane just 30 seconds later, the Bulldogs could relax and enjoy a deserved win on the road.
This weekend sees the Bulldogs back at The Pound looking to maintain their good recent form by getting the better of derby rivals Kingston Sharks - face-off 5.30pm, doors open 4.45pm.