The Alberni Valley Bulldogs used a 3 goal opening period to take Game 3 by score of 5-3 on Tuesday night at the Poirier Sports & Leisure Centre in Coquitlam.
With the win, the Bulldogs snatched back home ice advantage in the series and now lead 2 games to 1. Game 4 is set for tomorrow night.
It was a near picture perfect start for the Bulldogs who opened a 2-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old. Grayson Badger scored twice for his 3rd and 4th goals of the series.
After Noah Dziver cut the lead in half, Jacob Terpstra restored the 2 goal lead with his first of the post season at 14:15 of the 1st to make it 3-1.
In the 2nd period, Zeke Nicholson scored the lone goal of the period to make it 4-1. For Nicholson, it was Nicholson’s 2nd of the series. Greenberg and Badger picked up assists on the tally.
Down by 3 to start the 3rd, the Experess got one back early, and one back late as Jake Manfre got his 1st at 1:37 and Sam Frandina pulled Coquitlam to within a goal with a point shot that eluded Callum Tung at 18:20.
With Grayson Badger in the box late, Lucas Buzziol found the empty net for the short-handed game-clincher making it 5-3 with just :23 seconds remaining.
Callum Tung stopped 26 of 29 in the win, while Adam Manji suffered the loss allowing 4 goals on 32 shots.
After the special teams battle went to the Express in the first two games, the Bulldogs came out on top in Game 3 with a pair of power play goals and the shorty from Buzziol. The penalty kill was also 4 for 4 in the game.
Game 4 is now set for tomorrow night at 7pm, with Game 5 set for the Dawg Pound on Friday night. The box office is open 1-6pm tomorrow, 10 to 5 on Thursday, and open at 10 am on Friday. You can also skip the trip and purchase your tickets online by CLICKING HERE.
