Coming off their first win Saturday at home against Powell River, the Bulldogs are back at it this week with two home games. Friday night, the Langley Chiefs come to town for the Dogs first look at a Mainland team. Saturday, the Dogs host the Grizzlies for the third meeting between the two clubs already in this young season.
Langley enters this week with a Mainland Division leading 6-2 and 1 record, good for 13 points and second in the Coastal Conference by just a point behind Victoria. The Chiefs are winless in two at the time of this writing, as they are coming off a 2-1 loss at home on Saturday to the Burnaby Express. The night before, they played to a 3-3 tie with the Vernon Vipers. Before the Chiefs make their way over to the Island for the trip into the Pound on Friday, they host the Nanaimo Clippers at home on Thursday night.
I don?t expect the Chiefs to change much so long as Harvey Smyl is behind the bench, which he is again for his 17th season as coach. The Chiefs have made the playoffs every single year under Smyl and that?s no accident. His teams work extremely hard and they play an aggressive and physical in-your-face style. They of course have a good mix of speed and skill as well. Just like any other game but Bulldogs must be ready from the opening puck drop, and they must play a full 60 minutes if they hope to get win number two.
Friday?s pregame show from the Pound kicks off at 6:45 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play shortly after 7:00. Catch all the action on your radio on 93.3 The Peak FM or the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
Saturday night it?s the Victoria Grizzlies visiting the Pound for the first time since they spoiled the Dogs home opener with a 5-1 win. The Grizzlies are 2 and 0 against the Dogs this season, while the Dogs are 0-1-0 and 1 against the Grizz with the single point they picked up last time the teams met with a 4-3 overtime loss in the Grizzlies home opener.
Victoria enters this week on a four game winning streak, most recently seeing action last Saturday when they beat the Nanaimo Clippers 2-1 at Bear Mountain Arena. Before they visit the Pound on Saturday, the Grizzlies host the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night.
The Dogs know they can play with the Grizzlies after forcing overtime the last time these clubs met. Now they need to know that they can not only play with them, but beat them. To do that, it will take another great effort like the last one at Bear Mountain Arena, with team defence being a priority against the offensively talented visitors. Good special teams and of course great goaltending would also be huge if the Dogs hope to pick up their first win in their third try against the 2009 RBC Cup hosts.
The pregame show takes to the air at 6:45pm and the puck drop and all the play-by-play is at 7:00. Catch all the action on 93.3 The Peak FM or our website at www.933thepeak.com and of course through the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
If the Dogs hope to establish the DOG POUND as a formidable place to play, there might be no better time that this weekend with two solid opponents coming to town on back to back nights.
Game Day Audio ? ?Last Three, Next Two? Click the links to listen
