A great start through the first 45 seconds for the Bulldogs, as they forced the Silverbacks into back to back turnovers in their zone that resulted in good chances on net that Nic Tallarico kept out. Seconds later they would take a penalty though, to halt and early momentum earned. The kill was solid in not giving up much, as the game remained scoreless through the midway point of the first with both sides getting a couple good looks on net but not much in the way of wide open chances given up by each side. The Bulldogs would generate a couple great chances in the latter stages of the period, with Kyle Kaufmann setting up Affiate Player Rayman Bassi on the doorstep for a tip in attempt that was stopped by Tallarico. He would then make a desperation highlight reel save on a Keith Anderson rebound in the paint, just getting his glove up to get enough on it to keep it out. The Bulldogs would draw their first power play chance of the game with just over 20 seconds remaining in the period, and had a couple of good looks but couldn't find the net before the buzzer sounded. Shots in the period favoured the Bulldogs 13-8.
The second period saw the Dogs start with the carry over power play, but they couldn't cash in on it. The Dogs continued to push to get on the board, just missing a great set up at the It remained scoreless until the Silverbacks capitalized on a bounce at the Bulldog line as Mackenzie Wight put the puck hard off the glass in an attempt to chip it out, but it hit the partition and went to the middle of the blue line when Carson Bolduc kept it in. He would walk through the left circle and put a cross-ice pass onto the tape of Elijiah Barrigia, who walked in tight and to the outside with a deke that had Brody Claeys down and out before he put a centering pass through traffic to the top of the crease where Akito Hirose dove to poke it home to make it 1-0 at 7:22 of the second. The Bulldogs pushed back to continue to generate chances and pucks on net, but remained stymied by Tallarico and the hockey gods as he made a series of good saves with several deflection attempts hitting him and staying out. Later in the period Cayden Kraus stole the puck and skated in on a shorthanded breakaway, but couldn't get a shot away as he was hooked/slashed by the trailing defenceman. In what has seemed like a default penalty shot for some Officials, and at the very least a penalty call from most, the Dogs earned neither as play continued and Brody Claeys was forced to make a good save at the other end to keep it a one-goal game through 40 minutes. Shots were 12-11 Silverbacks in the period, and 24-20 Bulldogs after 40 minutes.
Despite the magnitude of the situation, the Bulldogs were unable to generate much of a push to start the third period, with Brody Claeys being busy in the early minutes to keep the Dogs in it. The Dogs were penalized just over four minutes into the period, but once again came up with a big kill to stay alive. They would have a great chance to tie it almost immediately afterwards, when Jake Witkowski was set up wide open in the hashmarks, but Tallarico again stood tall to keep it out and keep it 1-0. The Silverbacks would get the dagger to double their lead on the rush with 11 minutes to play as they went end-to-end on a partially broken play as a defender stepped up at the Bulldog line and missed, resulting in a partial breakaway for Nathan Iannone, that he capitalized on with a far-side wrist shot past the blocker of Claeys just inside the post to make it 2-0 at 9:00 of the third with Ryan Hogg and Grayson Constable assisting. The Dogs failed to get going to threaten to get on the board throughout the remainder of the third, and were forced to gamble with 3:58 remaining and an attacking zone faceoff as they called their time out and pulled Brody Claeys for the extra attacker. They would unfortunately lose the draw, but still found the puck on the left wing wall. A pass to the middle was immediately intercepted and then given away by the Silverbacks. Two Bulldogs would collide at the blue line, allowing the Silverbacks to skate it out for a 1 on 1 on the open net that went off the skate of Jordan Sandhu and in, who was back playing goalie. Justin Wilson got credit for it, with assists going to Trevor Ayre and Riley Booth at 16:15 of the third to make it 3-0. The Dogs would earn a power play with just under three minutes to play, and won a neutral zone faceoff but three Bulldogs were beaten to it by Connor Sundquist who hit the empty net while shorthanded to complete the scoring for the 4-0 final at 18:15 of the third, unassisted.
Final shots favoured the Silverbacks 37-27, with Brody Claeys taking the loss while Nic Tallarico picked up 1st star honours with the win and his second straight shut out against the Bulldogs. The Dogs went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Silverbacks went 0 for 5 while also scoring a shorthanded empty netter.
With the loss, the Dogs have lost six straight, and are eliminated from post season contention. They are in Vernon tomorrow to face the Vipers for a 6:00pm puck drop.