As the Bulldogs reach the halfway point of their season they have two more games on their schedule before heading home on their Christmas downtime. They head to the Lower Mainland to face the Express in Coquitlam for the first time this season on Friday night before they visit the Surrey Eagles for the third time on the campaign on Saturday night. The Dogs enter play Friday night 8th place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 11-15-2 and 0 for 24 points, two back of the Langley Rivermen with the Dogs having three games in hand. The Dogs are 11 points back of the Nanaimo Clippers for 4th place and a playoff position, with the Dogs having four games in hand on Nanaimo.
The Express sit 5th in the Conference with a record of 15-12-2 and 2 for 34 points, one back of Nanaimo with a game in hand. They last played Wednesday night when they picked up a 6-4 win on home ice over the Clippers. Jason Bourne would get the Express on the board first eight minutes into the game before Dante Godinho made it 2-0 with six minutes to go in the frame. The Clippers would trim the gap to 2-1 two minutes later on the power play before Alex Kerfoot made it 3-1 Coquitlam after one when he found the net just a minute later. Jon Siemer made it 4-1 on the power play just over a minute into the second before another power play goal at the midway point of the game from Zach Hodder made it 5-1 Express. The Clippers pulled to within three after 40 minutes when they scored late in the period. Less than a minute into the second they found the net again to make it 5-3, and before the seven minute mark it was a one goal game again at 5-4. Jon Siemer would give the Express all the cushion they needed with eight minutes to play for the 6-4 final.
Shots were even at 42 a piece Cole Huggins picking up the win in goal. The Express went 2 for 4 on the power play while Nanaimo went 1 for 4.
It’s the fourth head to head meeting of the season but the first on Express ice. The Dogs won the first head to head meeting in their season-opener September 24th by a 5-1 score. The Express have had nothing but revenge since, winning three in a row including a 4-0 win in the most recent meeting on November 19th, the only time the Dogs have been shutout this season
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Catch the pregame show Friday night from the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre at 6:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com, and watch the Pay Per View Broadcast by visiting the BCHL’s Live Portal HERE
The Eagles enter play Friday night in third place with a record of 16-9-1 and 3 for 36 points, two back of the Kings and seven back of the Conference leading Capitals, holding two games in hand on Powell River and three on the Capitals. They were last in action Wednesday on home ice where they picked up a 4-1 win over Powell River. Brandon Morley made it 1-0 Eagles with a power play goal with just over a minute to play in the first before the Kings answered two minutes in the second to tie it. It would stay tied for less than a minute though as Charles Orzetti answered for Surrey half a minute later. With just two minutes to go in the frame the Eagles got insurance on a power play goal by Sean McGovern for a 3-1 lead after two. One more Eagle goal on the power play made it a 4-1 final as Alex Hagen found the net seven minutes in.
Shots favoured Powell River in a losing cause 43-32 with Andrew Hunt picking up the win and 1st star honours in goal. Even strength play was rare in this game as the Eagles went 3 for 11 on the power play while Powell River went 0 for 8.
It’s the third meeting between the teams this after the Eagles won the first match up 5-3 on October 14thand the second meeting 2-1 in Surrey on November 20th. The teams were supposed to play November 24th at the Dog Pound, but the game had to be rescheduled to February 18th after inclement weather cancelled Ferry sailings to the Island.
Catch the pregame show Saturday night from the South Surrey Arena at 6:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com, and watch the Pay Per View Broadcast by visiting the BCHL’s Live Portal HERE
