The Surrey Eagles snapped a 4 game losing streak at the Alberni Valley Multiplex with a 5-2 win over the Bulldogs on Thursday night in Game 4 of the Coastal Conference Finals. With the win, the Eagles now lead the Best of 7 Series 3-1 with Game 5 set for Surrey on Saturday night.
It’s a familiar feeling for the Bulldogs, heading to Surrey with their season on the line, this year however they’re now faced with the unenviable task of trying to defeat the top team in the BCHL 3 straight games to save their season.
The Bulldogs know full well you can’t win 3 in a row all at once. That’s where the old cliche’s start coming out about taking it one period at a time.
Simply put, the effort on Thursday wasn’t good enough to beat a top team like the Eagles. Outside of a 5 minute stretch in the opening period, where the Bulldogs tied the game, took the lead, and were a Jax Wiser goal post away from going up 3-1, they just weren’t good enough. For the Bulldogs, it was a shame the 1st had to end when it did. The crowd was roaring and the players were buzzing.
Sadly, the momentum didn’t carry over to the 2nd period, in fact it went the other way completely. The Eagles outshot the Bulldogs 14-6 in the period and got goals from Caden Cranston at 6:57 and Jag Phangura at 7:55 to take the lead.
In the 3rd, the Bulldogs comeback attempt was thwarted when Ryan Evenhuis beat Callum Tung on a great move with 1:16 left in regulation for a 4-2 lead. Evenhuis would seal the win with an empty netter just under a minute later for the 5-2 Eagles win.
Matt Kursonis (4th) and Ryan Buckley (2nd) were the Bulldogs goal scorers. Surrey was 1 for 3 on the PP, the Bulldog were 0 for 3.
Callum Tung made 33 saves in the loss as the Eagles outshot the Bulldogs 37-18 on the night.
Game 5 is set for Saturday at 7:15 pm. Should the Bulldogs win and force a Game 6, it’s schedule for Monday at 7pm. Tickets would go on sale Sunday morning online and at the Bulldogs box office. Stay tuned to all Bulldogs social media channels for more information.
