The Bulldogs are back in action following the Christmas break with three games this week, including two straight against the Cowichan Valley Capitals to wrap up 2009 starting tonight in Duncan and then shifting back to Port Alberni Wednesday night. The Burnaby Express will make their second visit of the season to the Pound on Sunday as the Dogs will host them to open up the 2010 portion of their schedule.
The Bulldogs enter this week with a record of 27-10-1 and 2, good for 57 points and an eight point lead on the Surrey Eagles for the Coastal Conference lead. The Capitals sit at 14-23-0 and 1 for 29 points and a three point lead on the Burnaby Express for seventh in the Coast.
These teams were last in action when they played each other on December 20th, a hard fought 3-2 Dogs win at the Island Savings Centre. The Capitals took a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes left in the first period when Jackson Garrett found the net. The Bulldogs would tie it in the final minute of the period when David Dziurzynski tucked in a wrap around for a 1-1 tie after one. The Capitals took their second lead of the game halfway through the second on a Mike Hammond breakaway, but the Dogs got it back quickly again with Mitch MacMillan banging in a rebound two minutes later to knot it at 2-2 after 40 minutes. Tyler Berkholtz put the Dogs up 3-2 with his first career goal just five minutes into the third and the Dogs would make the lead stand holding off a late push from the Capitals with Frank Slubowski making several key stops in the final minute of the game.
It was the sixth win in six tries for the Dogs against the Caps this season. The Dogs were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Caps were 0 for 4. The Dogs outshot the Capitals 26-24. It was the fifth win in a row for the Dogs. The loss snapped a five game winning streak for the Capitals.
The Broadcast begins with the pregame show live from the Island Savings Centre 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
The two teams will do it all again Wednesday night at the Dog Pound. Different place, but same time with the pregame at 6:45 and the puck drop at 7:00pm all on 93.3 The Peak FM. Catch the Pay-Per-View video broadcast through the BCHL website
The Burnaby Express enter play this week with a record of 11-22-0 and 4 for 26 points and last place in the Coastal Conference. They were last in action December 18th when they topped the Quesnel Millionaires 5-2 at the Bill Copeland Arena.
They have a busy week coming up as they host Langley Tuesday and Surrey on New Year?s Eve to end a 10 game home stand before they visit the Chiefs on Saturday night. They will then wake up Sunday and head over to the Dog Pound. The Dogs have won the two head to head games this season ? 4-2 on Halloween night in Burnaby, and 4-1 at the Dog Pound November 15th.
Catch the 93.3 The Peak FM pregame show getting under way at 2:15 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play to follow at 2:30.
Sunday?s game will be the last Dogs home game before they head out for six in a row away from home with back to back Mainland roadies the next two weekends.
