The Bulldogs will end their regular season this weekend with two games. Friday they will head over the hump to visit the Clippers at the Frank Crane Arena. Saturday they will be on home ice as the Langley Chiefs visit the Dog Pound for the first time since September. As the regular season ends, 16 days off begin as the Bulldogs will sit on the sidelines for the first round of the playoffs as the Coastal Conference Regular Season Champions get a round 1 bye.
The Bulldogs enter this weekend with a record of 44-11-1 and 2 which is good for 91 points. They are on an eight game winning streak. Along with the goal of playing good hockey to go into the pre playoff break, the Bulldogs also have a chance to break the franchise record for points. A single point in the remaining two games would do it as the current Dogs are tied with the 2005-2006 team.
The Clippers have a record of 24-25-1 and 9, good for 58 points and 6th in the Coastal Conference. With only one game left they cannot catch the 5th placed Surrey Eagles who are six points ahead of them. At the same time, they cannot be caught by the 7th placed Cowichan Valley Capitals who are 9 points back. While they will also be hoping for a good result to go into the playoffs on a role, they will also be motivated by the chance of a .500 season.
The Clippers were last in action Saturday night in Duncan where they won their fourth in a row, 7-4 over the Capitals. After the Caps opened the scoring with an early shorthanded goal the Clippers fired back with three goals in a six minute span of the first to lead 3-1 with Brayden Jaw, Colton Cyr, and Joe Perry being the marksmen. The Capitals got one back to make it 3-2, but Luc Olivier Blain restored the two goal lead just a minute later for a 4-2 score after the first. The Caps again got back within one late in the second but again the Clippers answered just a minute later as Andrew Gladiuk made it 5-3 Clippers into period three. Brayden Jaw gave the Clippers a three goal lead just over a minute into the third, and Cody Bremner made it 7-3 just past the six minute mark. The Caps would add one with less than three to play but that would be as close as they would get.
The Capitals outshot the Clippers 40-38 in a losing cause with Loic Boivin picking up the win in net. The Clippers were 1 for 4 on the power play while the Capitals were 0 for 3, although they did score once shorthanded.
These teams last met on January 29th at the Dog Pound, a 5-3 Bulldog win. It was the third straight win in the head to head series for the Dogs. With the rivalry that exists between the two clubs and communities, there is never a shortage of atmosphere when they meet. When you throw in the fact that the Bulldogs will be cheered by two busses of supporters heading to the Frank Crane, it should be a fun and spirited game.
Catch the pregame show from the Frank Crane Arena on 93.3 The Peak FM at 7:15 with the puck dropping at 7:30pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak FM or online www.933thepeak.com
It?s the fourth and final meeting of the season between the Chiefs and Bulldogs as the Dogs Regular Season ends Saturday night.
The Chiefs enter play Friday night with a record 32-21-2 and 3, good for 69 points and 4th in the Coastal Conference. After a 10-4 loss in Powell River Thursday night, they can?t move any higher than 4th, although they can be caught by the Surrey Eagles if Surrey runs the table for their final three games. The Chiefs will be motivated to hold onto fourth as with it comes home ice advantage in round one of the playoffs.
Before they visit the Pound on Saturday, the Chiefs will play in Duncan Friday night. A single point in that game would clinch fourth place.
These teams last met January 17th in Langley as the Bulldogs won a battle of red hot teams with an 8-2 win to run their win streak to 14 straight. At the same time, it stopped Langley?s win streak at 12. Expect the Chiefs to be motivated not only for some revenge for that game but also to feel good about their game as they start their Playoffs.
Catch the pregame show from the Dog Pound at 6:45 and the puck drop at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM.
After the game the Bulldogs will be hosting an ?Open Mic? at Boston Pizza where fans are invited to come down for prizes, autographs, and a question and answer session with the Bulldog players and staff.
On Sunday afternoon the Bulldogs hold their 2009-2010 Awards Banquet. Get more details by contacting the Bulldogs Office.
It?s the final weekend of the regular season as the Dogs play their last two games before they go on a first round bye. You can bet that the Dogs will be motivated to go into the break feeling good as there won?t be any games for a while to try and get the feeling back as Round 2 doesn?t open until March 9th. The Clippers and Chiefs will be great tests for the Dogs so they will have to bring their ?A? game for a full 60 minutes
