The Alberni Valley Bulldogs find themselves where no team likes to be, on the brink of elimination at the hands of the Langley Rivermen. Leading 3 games to 1, a Langley Rivermen win tonight will send the Bulldogs home early than many expected.
The Bulldogs have some things in their favour heading into Game 5. Langley unthinkably won both Games 1 & 2 and the Dawg Pound. Surely the Bulldogs can’t loose 3 in a row on home ice after losing just 4 times in regulation all season long? They sure hope not. Of course this time of year, lots of things can be thrown out the window.
Through 4 games, the Rivermen lead on the scoreboard by a count of 8-7. The 8th goal game in the 1st minute of triple OT in game 4. It was a heart-breaker for the Bulldogs and a huge relief for Langley who desperately wanted to avoid dropping 2 straight at home as well.
The Bulldogs are now faced with the task of beating the Rivermen in 3 straight games. Of course they can’t win them all tonight, so they might as well just focus on a solid 60 minutes tonight in front of their adoring fans. The Bulldogs sold more tickets on Thursday for Game 5, then Langley sold for both games 3 & 4 combined. The passion for the Bulldogs in this community has been reborn and now it’s on the players to reward them.
Brandon Buhr is the BCHL’s leading playoff goal scorer with 8 and counting. Buhr seems to get better each game for the Bulldogs who need an offensive spark against this stingy Rivermen team who have re-discovered their defensive form.
Langley will be without Tyler Schleppe who was handed a 2-game suspension from the BCHL Department of Player Safety after he was assessed a Major penalty for a blow to the head.
In goal, it’s been an incredible battle between Hobie Hedquist and Ajeet Gundarah. Gundarah has a 1.50 goals against average, while Hedquist has a 1.73 GAA.
Game time is set for 7:00 pm, while Game 6 is set for Saturday in Langley at 7:15 pm. Should the Bulldogs force a Game 7, it would be Monday at 7:00 here at the Dawg Pound.
