Pitbulls Take Three Points From Two OT Results

By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Drive North Pitbulls came away with three points this weekend as they took the league leading Wildcats to overtime on Friday, followed by another OT result on Sunday against the Sharks, this time going in the Pitbulls’ favour with Tanner Butler scoring the game-winning goal for the two points. 

The weekend started with the Pitbulls heading to the Link Centre for their final encounter of the Wildcats this season. 

The first period got off to a quick start with John Dunbar getting an early chance just wide of Renny Marr as well as Cam Hamill, who beat past the home team’s defence, taking the puck down into the offensive zone to take a shot on net. Despite some close calls for both teams, it was the Wildcats that opened the scoring as Caden Villegas took advantage of the space in front of the net, firing a shot past Harry Thomas, which was quickly chased by Logan Vande-Meerakker, making it two in less than thirty seconds. As Dunbar headed to the box for a hooking call, the Pitbulls were able to not only kill the penalty but also get their chance shorthanded, with Mason Lipsey getting the visitors onto the scoreboard to lower the deficit, which was chased by Dunbar equalising not long after, sweeping the puck past Marr. The Wildcats were quick to take their lead back, however, with both Owen Griffiths and Tyler Watkins scoring in the last five minutes, putting them back ahead with a two-goal advantage at the end of the first. 

The Pitbulls had two power play opportunities in the second period; however, Marr was able to hold efforts from both Tanner Butler and Sean Morris on the man advantage, leaving the Wildcats to kill the penalties. This didn’t slow down the attempts from the away side, however, with Dunbar scoring his second of the night to bring the deficit back to one. 

With the Wildcats still leading going into the final period, the Pitbulls were eager to equalise. Villegas took a strike to the glove of Thomas, who denied his attempt to extend their lead before Hamill could make the pass to Caly Robertson, who led the rush and equalised with six minutes remaining in the period. Nell was quick to put the Wildcats back in their consistent lead causing the Pitbulls to call a timeout with Thomas heading to the bench in exchange for the extra skater. This paid off as Dunbar tucked his hat trick goal past Marr to take the game to overtime where Griffiths was able to score the winning goal, taking the pass from Villegas tapping it in past the reach of Thomas.

All focus then moved to Sunday’s fixture against the Sharks, which proved to be another goal fest for both teams.

The Sharks were quick from the face-off to get on the scoreboard, getting a lead just under a minute into regulation time coming off the stick of Leon Okonkwo-Prada. The response from the Pitbulls, however, overshadowed their temporary lead, with the home team putting four unanswered goals past Jordan Marr in the following minutes. Sam Smith was the first to do so, taking the puck from Robertson to get the equaliser. Jake Bricknell swiftly scored two following this, working with both Dunbar and Butler to earn a two-goal cushion for the home side. Despite this, the goal spell wasn’t over for the Pitbulls as Josh Batch scored one more to give them the 4-1 lead.

The Sharks picked up their pace following this, with Kyle Carruth scoring shortly into the second period; however, after picking up two penalties, the Pitbulls were able to extend their lead to five on the power play from Robertson. Both the home and away sides scored once more before heading to the final twenty minutes, coming from Cam Hamill for the Pitbulls and Duncan Speirs for the Sharks.

Solway scored three unanswered throughout the final period, equalising with the Pitbulls, taking the game to overtime for the second time across the weekend: The first from Speirs and the second from the stick of Dylan Stewart. The scoring continued to go in favour of the Sharks as Bricknell sat a two-minute roughing penalty, allowing Okonkwo Prada to light the lamp, tying the score at six a side. Overtime was quickly underway, and it was defenceman Tanner Butler who was able to secure the win for the home team, bringing the puck down the right edge of the ice and tapping a shot backdoor past Marr to keep them in the playoff race.