The Bulldogs are back in action this week with just two games. It will be their first two game week since the beginning of the month. Things get going Friday night in Langley for the third of four meetings this season with the Chiefs. Friday night will be the second meeting of the season between the Dogs and the Burnaby Express.
The Chiefs enter this week with a record of 15-12-1 and 0, good for second place in the Mainland Division. They are five points up on the Surrey Eagles, but Surrey has played two less games. The Chiefs were last in action Sunday afternoon when they broke a two game losing streak with a 7-4 win over the Millionaires in Quesnel to return home with 2 out of 6 points on an Interior road trip. The Millionaires would lead 1-0 after one period of play before Jessie Tresierra pulled the Chiefs back to even early in the second with a power play goal. The Chiefs then surged ahead to lead 3-1 with goals from Milos Gordic and Colton Beck, before the Mills got back into it with a shorthanded goal later in the period to cut the lead to 3-2. Colton Beck would restore the two goal lead with his second of the period to make it 4-2 with 2:18 left in the frame, but Quesnel again fought back with a power play goal in the final minute to trail 4-3 into period three. Another power play goal in the first minute of the third saw the Mills erase the two goal deficit to tie the game at 4-4, but that wouldn?t last long as Colton Beck completed the hat trick just over two minutes later to put the Chiefs up 5-4. Two goals 1:24 apart by Derek Grant and newly acquired Marcus Watson just short of the halfway mark of the period put the Chiefs ahead to stay this time as they skated to the 7-4 win.
Shots favoured Quesnel 42-26, with Wyatt Waselenchuk picking up the win in net. The Chiefs were 1 for 2 on the power play, and they also gave up a shorthanded goal. The Millionaires were 2 for 7.
The Chiefs are 2 and 0 against the Dogs this season with the most recent meeting coming at the George Preston Recreation Centre on October 23rd where the Chiefs were 3-2 winners. It was 2-0 Langley after one before Evan Witt got the Dogs on the board in the final minute of the second with a shorthanded goal to trail 2-1 after two. In the first minute of the third the Chiefs erased that marker and went up 3-1, but the Dogs fought back to make it 3-2 with Jackson Garrett scoring. It appeared the Dogs had the tying goal minutes later, but it was called back by an apparent high stick. That would be as close as they would get as the Chiefs made the lead stand.
Friday?s pregame show from the George Preston Recreation Centre 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
Saturday night the Dogs visit the Burnaby Express for the second time this season, with the last match up being won by the Express 4-3 on October 25th. This was a night ruled by special teams, and night of comebacks for the Dogs, but they in the end fell short. The Express took a 2-0 lead before the game was even seven minutes old on two power play goals. It would have been easy for the Dogs to roll over and quit at that point, on their third game in three days on the road trip. Instead, they battled back with two before the period was out for a 2-2 tie after one. Unfortunately, the Express picked up in the second where they left off early in the first, scoring twice before the period was six minutes old ? once on the power play, and once shorthanded, to lead 4-2. The Dogs fought hard throughout the period to stage a comeback, and they finally found the net to make it a one goal game with just over nine minutes left. The Dogs would go to the power play in the final minute, including a rare three man advantage, but they were unable to find the equalizer as the Express held on for the win. The Express were 3 for 5 on the night on the power play, while also scoring once shorthanded. The Dogs were 0 for 10.
The Express enter this week with a record of 9-14-1 and 3, good for fourth spot in the Mainland Division four points behind the Surrey Eagles. The Express have lost four games in a row. They were last in action Saturday night at home when they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Powell River Kings. The Express will be on the road Friday night taking on the Warriors in Westside before returning home to host the Dogs on Saturday.
Saturday?s pregame show from the Bill Copeland Arena 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
Game Day Audio ? ?Next Two? Click the links to listen
