The Bulldogs are back in action this week with three games in three days. Everything kicks off Thursday as the Burnaby Express make their first visit of the season to the Pound. Friday night the Dogs make their fourth visit of the season to the BIG STICK to face the Capitals. Saturday the Nanaimo Clippers make their third visit of the season to the Pound on a special ?Teddy Bear Toss? night with proceeds from various events throughout the evening going to the B.C. Children?s Hospital.
The Bulldogs go for their second win in a row Thursday, a feat they have yet to accomplish this season. They of course just beat Burnaby 4-3 in OT Saturday night at the Bill Copeland Arena. If you missed the recap of that game, read it HERE. On the other side of the puck, the Express look to avoid their 8th loss in a row. After losing their 6th in a row to the Dogs on Saturday, the Express dropped a 4-2 decision at home to the Langley Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. After a scoreless first period, the Chiefs got on the board just over a minute into the second. The Express battled back with Max Grassi getting an un-assisted shorthanded marker just over three minutes later to tie it at 1-1. Just three minutes after that the Chiefs went up 2-1, and two minutes later it was the Chiefs finding the net again, this time on the power play for a 3-1 lead after two periods. Cameron Brodie would help the Express make a game of it making it 3-2 with less than seven minutes to play, but just over a minute later the Chiefs found the net again for the 4-2 final.
Shots favoured Burnaby 30-25, with Richie Virtanen getting tagged with the loss in net. The Express were 0 for 3 on the power play, but they did score a shorthanded goal. The Chiefs were 1 for 8 on the power play.
With the come-from-behind win by the Dogs in Burnaby on Saturday, the season series is now tied at a win each in two games played. The Express will enter play Thursday with a record of 9-16-1 and 4, good for 23 points and last place in the Mainland Division.
Thursday?s pregame show from the Dog Pound is on the air at 6:45 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play at 7:00pm. Catch all the action on 93.3 The Peak FM or the BCHL Fanzone
Friday night the Dogs will be looking to erase some bad memories at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan as they visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Just two Fridays ago the Dogs had a 2-1 lead over the Caps with under five minutes to play in regulation, only to see the Caps storm back with two goals ? including the winner with 30 seconds to play, to score a heartbreaking 3-2 win. The Dogs have a 1 and 2 record at the BIG STICK, with all three games being decided by a single goal.
The Capitals enter play Friday with a record of 16-14-0 and 2, good for third spot in the Island Division, three points back of the second place Nanaimo Clippers. The Capitals were last in action on Wednesday night when they handed the Clippers a resounding 6-1 defeat at the Frank Crane Arena. Just 2:41 into the game newly acquired Anthony Perdicaro scored to put the Caps up 1-0. In the late minutes of the period it was 2-0 Cowichan when Chris Zaires found the net. The Caps would blow it open in the second scoring two goals in less than a minute and then one more just three minutes later to lead 5-0. Nicholas Wong got things going just over seven minutes in, before Joey Massingham made it 4-0. Massingham then struck again three minutes later for his second of the game, this time shorthanded – for a 5-0 Caps advantage. With less than two minutes to go in the period Taylor Holst made it 6-0 Cowichan after two as he found the net on the power play. The only goal of the third period came off the stick of newly acquired Stephen Simms as he ended Chris Rawlings hopes of a shut out with a power play goal with less than eight minutes to play in the third to make it 6-1.
Final shots actually favoured Nanaimo 27-23 with Chris Rawlings picking up the win in net. Mark Trousdell got the start for the Clippers and took the loss giving up 6 goals over the first two periods before Evan Smith worked a clean third period.
Special teams were a factor, with the Caps going 1 for 8 on the power play while also scoring once shorthanded. The Clippers went 1 for 9.
With the win, the Capitals broke a two game losing streak.
Friday?s pregame show from the Island Savings Centre kicks off at 7:15 with the puck dropping at 7:30. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM and the BCHL Fanzone
Saturday night the Dogs host the Clippers, still looking for their first win against the Nanaimo crew this season as the Shipmen have taken the first four head to head match-ups. The last time these teams played, the Clippers scored a 3-2 overtime win over the Dogs at the Pound on November 15th.
The loss to Cowichan on Wednesday was the Clippers third straight defeat. Before they visit the Dogs on Saturday, the Clippers play host to the Coastal Conference leading Powell River Kings on Friday night.
