(Photo courtesy of Z. Krill NLL)
The Vancouver Warriors (8-3) visited the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (4-6) Friday evening at Lee’s Family Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The big news in this game was the debut of Kevin Crowley. Signed on February 24th, the “Big Cat” looked to make an immediate impact. Also playing in his first game for the Dogs was newly signed Tyson Gibson. Add Crowley and Gibson to an already talented lineup, and Las Vegas is getting ready to make a solid playoff run.
Vancouver has been rolling recently. With their seven victories, the Warriors were challenging the Colorado Mammoth for second place in the league. Led by Keegan Bal, Jesse King, Curtis Dickson, Marcus Klarich, and Adam Charalambides, the Warriors can send wave after wave of offense.
The goaltending match-up had Christian Del Bianco facing Landon Kells in the Las Vegas net.
Keegan Bal led the Warriors with three goals, and three assists in the first half. Vancouver showed a balanced attack with six different scorers to take an 8-5 lead to the dressing room. Las Vegas showed a lot of moxy throughout the half with five different players score to keep them close. At the half, Vancouver was leading 8-5.
The Warriors came out flying in the third quarter scoring four unanswered goals. As the quarter wore on Vancouver took control of play, dictating the tempo. Whenever the Desert Dogs would get an opportunity, Christian Del Bianco would be there with the answer.
The fourth quarter saw Las Vegas finally mount a run against the Warriors. Down 13-6, the Desert Dogs, led by Adam Poitras with two, Jonathan Donville and Kyle Killen, scored four times in 7:14 to bring them within three goals. Reid Bowering stopped the run with 0:08 seconds remaining, giving Vancouver the 14-10 win.
To The Game:
Keegan Bal opened the scoring for the Warriors on the power-play with a laser from the outside off a Jesse King pass at 6:14, followed by an Adam Charalambides shake and fake off a Curtis Dickson feed at 8:35.
Chris Cloutier got one back for rhe Desert Dogs scoring from the top of the crease off a Kevin Crowley pass at 11:10, but Curtis Dickson replied from in close off a Marcus Klarich pass at 14:04.
After one quarter, Vancouver 3 Las Vegas 1.
Second Quarter:
The Desert Dogs got within one with Jonathan Donville finishing an Adam Poitras pass at 1:15, but Jesse King answered with a shot through the five-hole off a Keegan Bal pass at 6:04.
Bal then added one himself with a high to high blast in transition off a Christian Del Bianco feed at 6:47, but Adam Poitras kept Las Vegas close with a shortside blast at 8:29.
Shane Simpson showed off his speed going coast to coast unassisted at 8:54 to restore Vancouver’s three goal lead, but Anthony Malcom answered with a breakaway of his own at 9:39.
On a delayed penalty Matt Beers finished an Owen Grant feed at 11:25, followed by Keegan Bal’s third of the half off a Jesse King pass at 12:19.
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs replaced Landon Kells with Alex Buque.
Kyle Killen got on the board for the Desert Dogs with a howitzer from just inside the restraining line off a Chris Cloutier pass at 14:15.
At the half, Vancouver 8 Las Vegas 5.
Third Quarter:
Vancouver opened the third quarter with Ryan Sheridan scoring from the side of the net off an Adam Charalambides pass at 1:01, followed by Keegan Bal’s fourth of the game jumping across the crease off a Marcus Klarich pass at 3:35.
Klarich himself then found the back of the net off a Keegan Bal pass at 4:44, followed by Jesse King with a shot to the top corner off an Adam Charalambides pass at 6:54.
After three quarters, Vancouver 12 Las Vegas 5.
Fourth Quarter:
Brandon Goodwin finally got the Desert Dogs on the board finishing a Connor Kirst pass at 2:40, but on the power-play Curtis Dickson answered to the shortside top corner at 4:42.
Adam Poitras converted a Jonathan Donville pass from in front at 6:41, followed by Kyle Killen scoring his second of the night off a Jonathan Donville pass at 10:37.
Poitras scored his third of the game converting a Mitch Jones feed from in close 0:26 seconds later, followed by Jonathan Donville with a low to low shot on the power-play off a Chris Cloutier pass at 13:55.
Reid Bowering stopped the Vegas run, scoring with just 0:08 seconds left to seal the deal.
Final score, Vancouver 14 Las Vegas 10.
The Three Stars:
1. Keegan Bal
2. Adam Poitras
3. Jesse King
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Desert Dogs 51-44.
- The faceoff battle went to Las Vegas 22-6.
- The loose ball battle was won by the Desert Dogs 70-49.
- Vancouver went 2 for 2 on the power-play, while Las Vegas went 1 for 3.
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