The Bulldogs stretch of six straight road games continues this weekend with another three-in-three road trip that starts Friday in Powell River for a rematch against the Kings. Saturday the Dogs are in Burnaby to face the Express, and Sunday they face the Chiefs in Langley.
The Bulldogs enter this weekend with a record of 33-10-1 and 2, good for 69 points and first in the Coastal Conference. Like last week, the Powell River Kings are their closest competition but now they are two more points behind, entering this weekend eleven points back of the Dogs with a record of 26-12-1 and 5 for 58 points. The Kings still hold two games in hand on the Dogs.
The Kings were last in action Sunday afternoon at home where they won their second in a row, 6-2 over the Burnaby Express. The Kings got off to a good start in this one, up 1-0 before the game was two minutes old on an unassisted marker by Ben Schmidt. The lead was 2-0 later in the period after a Mat Bodie power play goal, but the Express got that back with a power play goal of their own to trim the gap to 2-1. It would be a two goal game less than a minute later after a Teagan Waugh goal for a 3-1 Powell River lead after one. The Kings again hit the scoreboard quickly in the second, with Chad Niddery tallying a power play marker before the period was a minute old to make it 4-1. The Kings took a 5-1 lead into the room after two after a late second period goal by Cody Rainaldi. Jordan Grant made it a 6-1 lead in the third before the Express added one on the power play for the 6-2 final.
Shots favoured Powell River 41-19 with Josh Watson picking up the win in net. The Kings were 2 for 6 on the power play while the Express were 2 for 8.
The Kings have won five of six games, with the only loss being the 4-1 Bulldog win last Friday. The Bulldogs weren?t exactly happy with how they played last Friday, although they were certainly happy with the end result. They will have to be even better this Friday if they want to stretch their win streak to 12 as you can be sure that the Kings will be playing with something to prove.
Catch the pregame show Friday night from the Powell River Recreation Complex on 93.3 The Peak FM at 7:15 with the puck dropping at 7:30pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak or www.933thepeak.com
Just like last week end, the Dogs will wake up early Saturday morning and hit the road down the Sunshine Coast for the two-Ferry trek to the Lower Mainland and the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Express and Bulldogs at the Bill Copeland Arena Saturday night.
The Express enter play Thursday with a record of 13-26-0 and 5, good for 31 points, three back of the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference. The Express have lost two in a row. They were last in action Sunday afternoon in Powell River, but they will be a busy team by the time the Dogs see them on Saturday night as they visit Langley Thursday night and Surrey Friday night.
The AVB have won all three games in the season series this year. These teams last met January 3rd at the Dog Pound, where the Bulldogs picked up a 5-2 win. With the Express fighting for their playoff lives, the Bulldogs need to be prepared for a desperate team.
Catch the pregame at 7:15 and the puck drop at 7:30pm on 93.3 The Peak FM. Watch the Pay-Per-View video broadcast through the BCHL website
It?s just the third meeting of the season Sunday when the Dogs and Chiefs hook up at the Langley Event Centre. The teams have split the season series so far with the Dogs taking game one at the Dog Pound September 25th. The Chiefs got revenge on the Dogs at the Langley Event Centre on November 1st.
The Chiefs enter play Thursday night with a record of 25-16-1 and 2 good for 53 points and third in the Coastal Conference, five points behind the second placed Kings. Next to the Bulldogs, the Chiefs are the next hottest team in the Coastal Conference as they have won 10 straight games entering play Thursday. Streaks could be a thing of the past or they could be extended further come Sunday afternoon as the Chiefs will also play two games before the Dogs roll into town – they are home to Burnaby Thursday and Surrey Saturday.
Catch the 93.3 The Peak FM pregame show getting under way at 1:45 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play to follow at 2:00.
This is another big three games in three days test for the Dogs as they finish a run of six straight games on the road. The goal this weekend has to be the same as last weekend for the Dogs – hold and build their lead at the top of the Coastal Conference Standings. Awaiting them after they finish this weekend away from home is a five game home stand at the Pound.
