The Bulldogs have two more games before they embark on their Christmas break, as they visit the Victoria Grizzlies on Friday before turning around and heading down Island again on Saturday to visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The Grizzlies enter play Friday night with a record of 20-14-0 and 2, good for 42 points and 4th place in the Coastal Conference. They lead the 5th placed Clippers by four points and the 6th place Bulldogs by seven points with the Bulldogs holding two games in hand.
The Grizzlies were last in action Sunday afternoon where they lost their third in a row by a score of 6-3 to the Capitals in Duncan. The Capitals got off to a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period on a Brendon MacDonald goal, but the Grizzlies tied it just two minutes later on a Bryce Twa marker. David Morley put the Grizzlies up 2-1 with six minutes to play in the second but it was the Capitals turn to answer quickly this time as just over a minute later Dillon Houghton tied it at 2-2 after two periods. The Capitals took a 3-2 lead on a Darrin Robak goal seven minutes into the third before it was 4-2 just two minutes later on a Tyler Jones tally. Again just two minutes later the Caps found the net again as it was 5-2 with a Jordan Grant power play goal with nine minutes to play. The Grizzlies got within two with less than two to play on a Madison Dias power play goal that made it 5-3, and after play resumed the game turned into a mini brawl after the whistle that escalated to Capitals Head Coach Dale Purinton taking exception to the Grizzlies actions and throwing water bottles at the Victoria bench before being restrained by the Capitals bench staff. The Caps got the final salt in the wound with a minute to go on an Alex Halloran empty netter for the 6-3 final.
The Grizzlies outshot the Capitals 35-32 in a losing cause with Matt Ginn taking the loss and Chase Martin earning the win for the Caps. The Grizzlies went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Capitals went 1 for 4.
The Bulldogs certainly have something to prove against the Grizzlies as they have had their number so far this season, winning all three contests including the last two games which were at the Dog Pound ? 3-2 on October 12th, and 6-5 on November 6th. The Grizzlies won the only meeting of the season here at Bear Mountain Arena by a score of 4-2 on October 8th another one goal game until a Victoria empty netter with 15 seconds to play.
Friday?s pregame show is on the air from the Bear Mountain Arena at 7:00pm with the puck drop shortly after 7:15 on your radio on 93.3 The Peak FM, on your computer at www.933thepeak.com and the BCHL website at www.bchl.ca
The Capitals will enter play Saturday with a record of 13-18-1 and 4, good for 31 points and 8th place in the Coastal Conference which would put the Capitals out of the post season if the playoffs started today. The Capitals were last in action in the 6-3 win against the Grizzlies mentioned above, and they also have Friday night off. Saturday?s game against the Bulldogs is also their last game before the Christmas break.
The Capitals are unbeaten in two as before their 6-3 win over the Grizzlies they played the Trail Smoke Eaters to a 4-4 tie. While they lost 5-2 to the Vipers earlier last week they have picked up points in four of five games so far in December, beating the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-3 and losing 3-2 in Quesnel in overtime.
The Bulldogs have the edge in the season series winning four of five games played so far. The Dogs took game 1 at the Island Savings Centre 4-3 in double OT at the end of October, and took game 2 by a score of 1-0 at the end of November.
Catch the pregame show Saturday night from the Island Savings Centre on 93.3 The Peak FM and our website at www.933thepeak.com at 7:15 and the puck dropping at 7:30
With the Holiday break on the horizon the challenge for the Dogs if they want to head home on a high note with two wins and four huge points in the standings is to remain focused and consistent to bring two solid efforts.
