The Red Dogs came out snarling and never looked back, racing to a commanding lead in the first period and ultimately downing the Reapers 6-3 in a game that was as explosive as it was decisive. The opening frame was an absolute onslaught from the home side, who pumped four goals past Reapers netminder Trevor Savage (#0) on a staggering 31 shots. The scoring started early, with Brogin Bucci (#22) finding the back of the net at 11:15, assisted by Nick Hall (#21) and Tanner Popowich (#44). Bucci wasn't done, striking again at the 6:00 mark with help from Danny Popowich (#56). The Red Dogs kept their feet on the gas, as Johnny Doan (#9) made it 3-0 at 2:52, and Chase Cormier (#55) capped the period with a goal at 0:50, sending the Reapers to the locker room dazed and down by four. Meanwhile, in the Red Dogs' crease, Byron Simpson (#31) was quietly perfect, stopping all 26 shots he faced in the period to keep his team firmly in control.
The middle frame saw a brief surge from the Reapers, who finally found their legs. The Red Dogs continued their assault with Nathan Brown (#88) scoring just over a minute in to make it 5-0, but the game took a chippy turn when both teams were assessed major slashing penalties at nearly the same time. Chase Cormier (#55) of the Red Dogs and Ryan Snowden (#10) of the Reapers each sat for five minutes, opening up four-on-four play. The Reapers capitalized on the additional space, with Amaan Siddiqui (#15) and Scott Marples (#95) scoring just minutes apart to cut the lead to 5-2. However, any thoughts of a full comeback were dashed when Liam Hickey (#91) restored the three-goal lead for the Red Dogs at 1:07, making it 6-2 heading into the third.
The final period was a quieter affair, but still featured a major penalty for Snowden, his second of the game, which put the Reapers shorthanded once again. The visitors showed their resolve, with Riley Sinclair (#55) ripping home a goal at 8:00 to make it 6-3, but the Red Dogs’ defense clamped down from there. Though the shots on goal totals were incomplete for the final two periods, the Red Dogs' early barrage was more than enough. Byron Simpson earned the win with a solid, if statistically untracked, performance in net, while the Reapers' Trevor Savage was hung out to dry in the first period, allowing six goals on 31 shots in a losing effort. The Red Dogs’ early eruption and timely penalty kill proved to be the difference in a game that was all but decided in the opening 15 minutes.