On paper, it was a recipe for trouble. On the ice, it proved true.
A tired Bulldogs squad couldn’t muster much in a 2-1 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday afternoon.
The Caps were playing the 1st game since Tuesday, the Bulldogs were playing their 3rd of the week, and 2nd in 18 hours.
Cowichan opened the scoring as Tyler Leibl got his 2nd of the pod at 8:49 of the 1st. The Bulldogs would answer back to pull even at 1-1 just minutes later as Ryan Nause found the back of the net for his first BCHL goal. Finn Brown was credited with the only assist, though that’s likely to change upon review.
For the Bulldogs, try as they might, it was all the offence they would muster against the Caps and goaltender Lucas Pfeil who made 26 saves on the afternoon.
Riley Wallack got the game winner for the Caps with a point shot through traffic that eluded Bulldogs goaltender Bailey Monteith.
The Bulldogs had some late opportunities, including a power play with 3:27 left in regulation time.
Final shots on the afternoon were 34-27 Caps.
The loss was the Bulldogs 1st in regulation time in their past 9 games and it could prove costly in the hunt for the Island pod crown. The Bulldogs remain 2 points behind the Grizzlies heading into tonights tilt between Victoria and Nanaimo.
The Bulldogs are now 8-3-3-1.
THREE STARS:
*** Sam Schofield- COW (2a)
** Emanuelson Charbonneau – AVB
* Brett Fudger – COW (2 a)
