The Las Vegas Desert Dogs evened their record at 7-7 with a 10-9 overtime win over the Calgary Roughnecks at Lee’s Family Forum Saturday night. In addition to setting a new franchise record for wins in a season, Las Vegas maintains a one-game lead over both Rochester and San Diego for the eighth and final playoff spot with three weeks left in the regular season. Calgary drops to 4-11, suffering their fifth loss by two goals or less this season, and are eliminated from playoff contention.
Las Vegas shuts out Calgary in first quarter, leads at halftime
The Desert Dogs started hot, getting goals from Chris Cloutier (2:47) and Jonathan Donville (6:29). Jackson Webster added another goal late (13:38) for a 3-0 Las Vegas lead after the first quarter. Tanner Cook (0:31 second quarter) and Jacob Dunbar (3:51) got on the board for the Roughnecks to cut the lead to 3-2. But Cloutier’s second goal (9:55) and a goal from Mitch Jones (10:42) put the Desert Dogs up 5-2 going into halftime.
Calgary rallies late, but Las Vegas takes it in overtime
The Desert Dogs extended their lead to 7-2 with goals from Adam Poitras (1:04) and Kevin Crowley (6:56). A power play goal from Brayden Mayea (12:45) cut the Las Vegas lead to 7-3 after three quarters. Mayea struck again to open the fourth (2:09), then Cook netted another 33 seconds later to make it a two-goal game. Desert Dogs head coach Shawn Williams opted to replace Alex Buque in net with Landon Kells. Cloutier’s hat trick goal (4:34) and a transition goal from Brandon Goodwin (5:15) pushed the lead back to four, 9-5.
However, the Roughnecks continued to rally with a four-goal run in the waning minutes of the game. Haiden Dickson (12:36), Tyler Pace (12:58), and Dickson again (13:11) pulled Calgary to 9-8. Buque went back into the Las Vegas net, and Cook welcomed him back by tying the game with 59 seconds left in regulation. The game went into overtime, where both teams had multiple quality scoring chances. Donville called game at the 8:48 mark of the extra frame, bringing Las Vegas back to the .500 mark and ending the Roughnecks’ hopes of a late-season playoff push.
Other Stats Of Note
Calgary: Cook (3g, 3a); Mayea (2g, 4a); Dickson (2g, 2a); Pace (1g, 6a); Dunbar (1g)
Las Vegas: Cloutier (3g, 3a); Donville (2g, 1a); Jones (1g, 4a); Poitras (1g, 1a); Crowley (1g, 1a); Webster (1g, 1a); Goodwin (1g); Graydon Stokes (2a)
Aden Walsh (CGY): 34 saves; Alex Buque/Landon Kells (LV): 54 saves combined
Power Play: CGY 1 for 6; LV 0 for 2
Justin Inacio (CGY): 21-23 Faceoffs; 10 Loose Balls
