BARK MADNESS: Sweet 16 - Announcing the Winners!

Tweet from @njderoy: #BarkMadness >>>>> #MarchMadness don't @ me

Tweet from @kayaubrianna: confession: I missed Doughty���s goal because I was busy deciding which dog I���m rooting for this year. #BarkMadness #LAKings

Tweet from @skyepayyyne: wow deciding who I���m gonna support in bark madness is so much harder than filling out a bracket for march madness

Tweet from @TheKingOfBans: I hate the #LAKings but Kopitar has a gorgeous dog.

Tweet from @jdircio24: um, is it wrong to vote for Dodger Toffoli just because of the Pikachu outfit? lol �� @LAKings @tytoff16 #barkmadness pic.twitter.com/bAA5qnYB9n

If that's being wrong, I don't ever want to be right.

Tweet from @CalebRapoport: The curse of #BarkMadness #LAKings have won ��������playoff game since it was introduced 3 seasons ago.

You know what, who cares what the fans think?
I only care about what celebrities think!

Tweet from @CatBelanger: Mr. Samuel L. Jackson would also like you to vote for Dodger Toffoli ������@tytoff16 @LAKings https://t.co/XDQSGx0CW9 #BarkMadness pic.twitter.com/Pkuoluom8j

Too bad he didn't get a part in Reservoir Dogs.
FYI, you can buy those LA Kings Dog Shirts here!

Video: Fox Sports West asks the LA Kings about Bark Madness

Now, the moment you've been waiting for... which dogs are moving on to the Elite 8! And wow, in the Sweet 16, we witnessed easily one of the biggest upsets by a dog... ever.

Ok, maybe the secnd biggest upset by a dog.
 

No. 1 ALEC MARTINEZ vs No. 16 ACE BAILEY

I have to be honest, I don't think we've ever seen any election play out like this matchup before. On one paw, you have a campaign that chooses to ignore most of the American fanbase because they are so confident that they will capture the votes needed to win.

While on the other paw, you've got a campaign that is so focused on spreading lies and misinformation, that they are actually able to rally a fanbase and catch their opponent by surprise.

Tweet from @BaileyLAKings: I have seen soooo many photoshopped photos of all the people that actually want ACE to win #BarkMadness please don���t fall for these horrible cheaters. Vote for my boy ACE at https://t.co/YEqjvcsA3O pic.twitter.com/qa1dSyznoK

Tweet from @BaileyLAKings: I have seen soooo many photoshopped photos of all the people that actually want ACE to win #BarkMadness Shame on you @StaciaRR I would never resort to such tactics ��. Please see original photo below! Vote for my boy ACE at https://t.co/YEqjvcsA3O pic.twitter.com/ekXQkGtv4C

Tweet from @BaileyLAKings: Big thanks to @tytoff16 and @adriankempe for making these beautiful shirts of ACE for #BarkMadness You know they want you to vote for ace! https://t.co/21pB4IkFNB pic.twitter.com/UI4vDivBqv

Yes, we've definitely never, ever seen an election like this before.

Nope, never.

And to be clear, the dog that is moving on to the Elite 8... won this matchup by a single vote. So yeah, Alec Martinez, you might have wanted to pump Hank's dog tires on Twitter just a little bit.

HANK: 49.99%
ACE: 50.01%
 

No. 2 GUSTL KOPITAR vs No. 15 HOWARD STOLL

Coming into Bark Madness 2018, we here at Bark Madness Selection Committee didn't think that Gustl, the most beloved dog in LA Kings history, would have any issue beating the dog of a former player who is now a broadcaster.

But now that the First Round dust has settled, we've been able to assess that this matchup came down to one thing. The celebrity endorsement.

Howard Stoll brought the celebs...

Tweet from @ErinAndrews: Do you believe in MIRACLES? Help #HowTheUnderdog pull off the upset in this year���s #barkmadness https://t.co/uVL598dHKW pic.twitter.com/txxyxBAtad

Tweet from @darenmillard: Some fun here. My furry buddy Howard Stoll needs some good ole Canadian support. Help our mom and dad @jarretstoll @ErinAndrews #prairiepower. #BarkMadness #manitobasaskatchewan https://t.co/ClIh9Fu3sD

While Gustl Kopitar, winner of Bark Madness 2015, well... um...

Tweet from @OvietheBulldog: Go vote for my @LAKings canine buddy @GustlTweets during the Kings #BarkMadness! Good Luck!! https://t.co/BeGMZz44tw

In past Bark Madness competitions, Gustl has been able to get hockey-loving celebrities like Andy Lassner to help get out the vote for him. But this year, Andy and even Gustl's own Dad didn't tweet their support of Gustl's campaign.

Anze Kopitar's past week of Tweets.

GUSTL: 47%
HOWARD: 53%
 

No. 3 EMMA PEARSON vs No. 14 BENTLEY ARMSTRONG

Once again, Emma Pearson's winning percentage was in the mid-'70s because... well, you know...

EMMA: 74%
BENTLEY: 26%
 

No. 4 DODGER TOFFOLI vs No. 13 NIKKI RAE ROBITAILLE

As you can see by now, winning Bark Madness sometimes comes down to who you know. And Dodger Toffoli might be the best-connected person in Hollywood... dog or not!

Tweet from @PandoraVT: Vote for my favorite Dodger Toffoli @tytoff16 ���s ��baby!! #4 - help her win the title hehe! They���re such great supporters of @VanderpumpDogs #LaKings �������� https://t.co/6SHKYo8q4e

Tweet from @tytoff16: Times running out vote for dodger! https://t.co/IiuhtCgWEN pic.twitter.com/51I8IOFJPy

While Nikki Rae was only able to get some actor from the 1990s to endorse their campaign.

DODGER: 54%
NIKKI RAE: 46%
 

No. 5 DARYL MUZZIN vs No. 12 SAM GRAVEL

The short-haired Gravel proved to be no match for the long-haired Muzzin.

Also, Daryl beat Sam.

DARYL: 77%
SAM: 23%
 

No. 6 BO CARTER vs No. 11 EDDIE THOMPSON

Honestly, you LA Kings fans are awful. Bo Carter is a beautiful rescue dog that was born with bowed legs and LA Kings fans just tossed him aside for a cute Golden Lab?!? You all should personally apologize to Jeff Carter and his family. Especially the next time he scores a game-winning goal for YOU.

BO: 44%
EDDIE: 56%
 

No. 7 MILO BROWN vs No. 10 PARKER MITCHELL

Parker Mitchell was tabbed as one of our pollsters "Dogs to Watch" coming into this competition, but much like Dustin Brown this season, Milo is proving all the haters wrong.

MILO: 72%
PARKER: 28%
 

No. 8 REGGIE DOUGHTY vs No. 9 PEARL PHANEUF

Finally, even though Pearl Phaneuf had a celebrity endorsement behind her...

Tweet from @HappyElishas: https://t.co/IdWRRIl7ek

...nothing is cuter than a beagle on a couch.

REGGIE: 69%
PEARL: 31%

What an amazing Sweet 16! We'll be back shortly to preview the matchups for the Elite 8!

As always, make sure you give back by purchasing one of the "We Are All K9s" calendars!!! Buy them here!

All proceeds benefit the Wags & Walks Adoption Center! Also, Jeff and Megan Carter work tirelessly to help promote all the wonderful dogs that are available for rescue throughout Los Angeles with the Wags and Walks organization.

You can always support Wags and Walks by fostering, rescuing or donating.

Also, check out Sunny Saints, a St. Bernard Rescue that Jake and Courtney Muzzin are involved with.

They even foster dogs from Sunny Saints!