The Alberni Valley Bulldogs find themselves in an uncomfortable spot, down 2 games to none in their best of 7 Coastal Conference Semifinal with the Surrey Eagles. The good news for the Bulldogs is a return to the friendly confines of the Dawg Pound.
The Bulldogs were 18-7-0-1 during the regular season and pumped that win total up to 20 in the opening round sweep of the Grizzlies at home. The Bulldogs are hoping some good old fashioned home cooking, and a rowdy fan or two will help them climb back into their series. Puck drop is 7:00 pm tonight for Game 3.
The Eagles were full marks for their pair of series opening wins at the South Surrey Arena on Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs controlled much of both games, and in fact held 3rd period leads in both games, only to lose both. Uncharacteristic of the Bulldogs to say the least.
The Eagles averaged just 751 fans per game in the regular season, during the first two games they delivered back-to-back sellouts. The Bulldogs are hoping for the same advantage.
Games at the South Surrey Arena are played on Olympic size ice. The Eagles use those extra 15 feet to their advantage, especially on the power play. Returning to the regulation sized ice surface of the Multiplex should help the Bulldogs. Surrey was just 14-11-2-0 away from home during the regular season.
The Eagles have been buoyed by the performance of goaltender Michael Sochan thus far in the playoffs. Sochan is 6-1 with a 2.02 GAA and a .934 save percentage in the post season. Many felt when the Eagles lost their likely MVP in Eli Pulver, goaltending would be a point of weakness for the Eagles. Thus far, Sochan has silenced the critics. Game 2 saw the Bulldogs get to Sochan for 4 goals on just 37 shots, a sub-.900 save percentage. Hobie Hedquist made 41 saves for the Bulldogs in the Game 2 double OT loss.
Game 2 in particular, both Dakota MacIntosh and Brandon Buhr were fantastic offensively with 2 goals each. More of the same will be required on home ice for the Bulldogs to climb back into the series.
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