The Bulldogs return to action coming off their Interior road trip and the BCHL All-Star break with two games this weekend. Friday night the Dogs will make their third trip of the season down to the Bear Mountain Arena to take on the Victoria Grizzlies. Saturday the Dogs return home to host the Burnaby Express for the second and final time this season.
If Friday?s meeting in Victoria is anything like the last couple of head to head match ups between the Grizzlies and the Dogs, it will no doubt be a fan and media pleaser but a game that might make a coach go grey.
The last time these clubs met in Victoria it was December 29th, a 5-4 come from behind overtime win for the Dogs. This game had lead changes throughout- The Grizzlies led 1-0 and 2-1 after two before the Dogs came out with two quick ones in the first four minutes of the third to lead 3-2. The Grizzlies would fire back with two of their own to lead 4-3. The Dogs would force overtime when Daniel Moriarty scored the equalizer with 8 seconds to play. Just seconds into overtime the Dogs went to the power play as the Grizzlies were penalized for goalie interference. It didn?t take the Dogs long to end it on the power play as Daniel Moriarty blew a slap shot home from the high slot. The last time these teams met was at the Pound on January 12th, an equally exciting game where no winner was decided through 70 minutes of hockey as the teams played to a 4-4 draw. The Dogs led 1-0 in the first before the Grizzlies equalized for a 1-1 tie after one. In the second the Grizzlies took the lead before the Dogs tied it up for an even 2-2 score into the final period. Early in the third the Dogs took a 3-2 lead, but the Grizzlies fired back with two quick ones for a 4-3 lead. Evan Witt would score the equalizer for the Dogs with 6:19 left to force overtime- which would settle nothing.
Believe it or not, the Grizzlies have played just one game since the 4-4 tie with the Dogs – a 5-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters last Saturday. By comparison, the Bulldogs have played five games in that same time span. Back to the Grizzlies last game- The Smoke Eaters would get off to a good start in this one, leading 1-0 6:25 in. It would be all Victoria after that though. They would first fire back to knot it up six minutes later with a Justin Courtnall power play goal for a 1-1 tie after one. After a scoreless second period, the Grizzles owned the third scoring four times. It was Courtnall again scoring on the power play 23 seconds into the period for a 2-1 lead before Shaun Stuart made it 3-1 before the period was five minutes old. Keenan Desmet made it 4-1 at the halfway point before Brian Nugent finished the scoring with a power play goal with 3:40 to play for the 5-1 final score. Shots would favour the Grizzlies 45-25 with Matthew Wong earning the win in net. The Grizzlies were 3 for 8 on the power play while the Smokies were 0 for 3.
With the win over the Smoke Eaters, the Grizzlies are now on a four game unbeaten streak. Besides the tie with the Dogs and the win over Trail the Grizzlies have also picked up wins over Vernon and Nanaimo over the streak. That alone shows that the Grizzlies are playing good hockey and the Dogs had better bring their A game. Throw in the fact that the Grizzlies are two points out of the playoffs with one game in hand on the 6th placed Powell River Kings, and the Dogs very well might be facing a very desperate and hungry bunch in the Grizzlies. It will be a very tough game for the Dogs to win if they don?t match Victoria?s energy level.
The pregame show hits the airwaves and internet-waves at 6:45 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play at 7:00pm. Catch the broadcast through your radio in the Alberni Valley on 93.3 The Peak FM or through your computer and the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
The Bulldogs return to home ice Saturday after five straight on the road to host the Burnaby Express. The Express entered this week with a record of 26-18-0 and 3, good for 55 points and a third place tie in the Coastal Conference standings with the Langley Chiefs. To further illustrate the tightness of the Coastal playoff race: while the Express are only two points out of second place, they are also only seven points out of seventh place and out of the playoffs. Wow!
The Express have lost three in a row going into this week, including back to back losses last weekend to the Nanaimo Clippers by scores of 4-2 and 4-0 in the home and home series. Before visiting the Dogs Saturday, the Express travel to Duncan Friday to meet the Cowichan Valley Capitals. After visiting the Dogs, the Express finish their trip in Nanaimo Sunday afternoon. With six big points on the line, it?s a huge road swing for them.
This will be the third of four meetings between the Dogs and Express this season, with the Express winning the previous two: 4-2 at the Bill Copeland Arena on October 27th, and 5-3 at the Pound December 9th. The Dogs feel that they let one get away in that game, as the Express scored the game winner with 1:18 left in regulation when former Dog Jacob Verheyden scored his second of the contest. Carlo Finucci would score the insurance marker into the empty net with 33 seconds to go. The Dogs outshot the Express 39-29, but Kevin Jebson was stellar in goal.
With the standings as tight as they are, the Express will surely be a motivated team. Carlo Finucci is one player to watch out for, as he leads the league in scoring with 30 goals and 55 assists for 85 points. Brodie Reid is also very dangerous, as he is second in the league in goals scored with 42, three behind Vernon?s Hunter Bishop.
Saturday?s pregame show from the Dog Pound kicks off at 6:45pm with the puck dropping at 7:00. Catch all the action in the Alberni Valley on your radio on 93.3 The Peak FM, or anywhere else in the world with the Internet Broadcast through the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
