​Kincardine Bulldogs eliminate Walkerton in PJHL playoffs

The Kincardine Bulldogs have eliminated the Walkerton Capitals, 4-2, as their opening playoff series wrapped up on the weekend.

Thursday night in Walkerton, the 'Dogs suffered their second loss, allowing Walkerton to tie the series at 2-2, after the Capitals won, 4-1.

Kincardine's lone goal was scored by Zasha Ortman from Ryan Robillard and Caeleb Bowler.

Bulldogs goalie Blake Beitz made 25 saves on 29 shots, while his teammate, Myles Knight, made five saves on five shots.

Back at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine, Saturday night, the 'Dogs came out snarling, winning 4-3 in overtime, and taking a 3-2 series lead.

Walkerton jumped ahead with an early two-goal lead before Kincardine's Owen Shore scored, midway in the second period, from Cole Lewis and Bowler. Minutes later, Nathan Lavender scored for the Bulldogs, unassisted; and then Cameron Robillard scored the tying goal for the 'Dogs, assisted by Ortman and Jared Houghton.

Neither team could score the winning goal in the third period, forcing the game into overtime. Minutes into that overtime period, Tyler Kelly scored the game-winner on the powerplay, from Lewis, putting Kincardine ahead in the series.

Beitz made 24 saves on 27 shots in net for the Bulldogs.

Facing elimination, Saturday night in Walkerton, the Capitals brought their best effort but the Bulldogs roared by them, with a 4-2 win, clinching the series, four games to two.

In a tough, penalty-ridden game, Walkerton opened the scoring with a goal in the first period.

Ortman put Kincardine on the board early in the second, scoring from Ryan Robillard and Shore. Midway in the period, Bryce Martin made it a 2-1 game for the 'Dogs, assisted by Houghton.

Walkerton managed to tie it up but the third frame belonged to the Bulldogs as they scored two unanswered goals to take the 4-2 win, and the series. Cameron Sultana scored from Kelly and Lewis; and Ryan Robillard scored, unassisted.

Kincardine goalie Rowen Cherrett made 33 saves on 35 shots.