The AVB are back at it this weekend with two games on their schedule which should be a relief as that?s half of last week?s four games in five days grind. They will be facing familiar foes, with Victoria in town on Friday and the Dogs heading back to Cowichan Saturday, one week removed from visiting the Big Stick for the first time all season.
The Grizzlies and Bulldogs will meet for the fifth time Friday, the most head to head games for the Dogs against any one team. It will be the first time since the Bulldogs home opener on September 18th (a 3-1 Dogs win) that the Grizzlies visit the Pound, with the last three meetings going at the Bear Mountain Arena. The Dogs have a good record head to head against the Grizz ? Two wins, a loss, and a tie in four games for five out of a possible eight points. However ? their most recent meeting was the one they would want back, a 3-0 Victoria win November 18th. It was the first (and so far only) time the Dogs have been shutout this season. Afterwards, the Dogs said that they were ?out battled? by the Grizzlies in the game. Don?t expect that to happen again on Friday.
The Grizzlies were last in action on Wednesday when they visited the Bulldogs Saturday night opponent ? the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Grizzlies had their three game unbeaten streak snapped with a 3-2 double overtime loss. After a scoreless first and second period Jimmy Carter got the Grizzlies on the board early in the third period, only to see Nick Anderson fire back for the Caps just three minutes later for a 1-1 tie five minutes in. Just a minute later Ryan Green found the net to give the Caps a 2-1 lead, but the Grizzlies would get the equalizer with just over six minutes left on a Brandon Fagerheim goal to force overtime. The Caps would get the win in sudden death on a penalty shot goal in double OT from former Grizzlie Mike Hammond 1:23 in.
Shots favoured the Grizzlies 35-30 with Capitals net minder Alex Peck picking up the win and second star honours. Richie Virtanen took the loss for Victoria. Special teams were a non-factor, with the Caps going 0 for 5 and the Grizzlies going 0 for 4.
With the single point picked up with the OT loss, the Grizzlies now sit tied with Nanaimo and Langley for third in the Conference, with a record of 13-9-2 and 3 good for 31 points. They are only two points behind the third placed Powell River Kings, and only six points behind the Dogs. So it?s simple to see how big this one is.
The Broadcast begins with the pregame show on 93.3 The Peak FM at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak or www.933thepeak.com and watch live through the Pay Per View Broadcast through BCHL Web TV
For the second time this season, and the second time in seven days, the Dogs pay the Cowichan Valley Capitals a visit at the Island Savings Centre Saturday night.
The Bulldogs have won all three games against the Capitals this season, most recently 6-1 last Saturday in Duncan on the strength of a four goal performance from Mitch MacMillan ? three of them were power play goals. While the Dogs won the game 6-1, the coaching staff wasn?t overly pleased with the defensive effort of the team in the first period as they gave up way too many quality scoring chances. If not for the strong play of Scott Lewan, the game might have been much different. Before last Saturday?s game, the Dogs topped the Caps 8-3 at the Pound on November 10th. As they have outscored the Capitals 14-4 over the last two games, it?s important that the Dogs don?t take the Capitals lightly, as they will no doubt be out for some revenge. Throw in the fact that they are coming off a win in their last game, as mentioned above, the Dogs need to be ready to go from the opening puck drop.
The Capitals enter play Friday with a record of 9-18-0 and 1, good for 19 points, tied with Burnaby for 7th in the Coastal Conference. So this is a big two points for them.
Saturday?s pregame show kicks off at 7:15 with the puck dropping at 7:30 on 93.3 The Peak FM and online at www.933thepeak.com
