The Bulldogs have two more games coming up this week, which will be their shortest preparation week of this young season. Thursday night the Dogs will host the Powell River Kings at the POUND before heading down to the Bear Mountain Arena Friday night for the first regular season meeting between the Grizzlies and Dogs after the clubs tangled twice in exhibition contests.
The Bulldogs sit at 0-3-0 and 1 entering play this week, after losses of 3-2 and 4-3 (in double OT) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals last Friday and Saturday in Duncan and then Port Alberni. Please see the most recent ?Hammer?s Recap? for more details on these two games.
The Kings sit at a very even 1-1-1 and 1 after what had to be a very thrilling 3-3 tie at the Bear Mountain Arena against the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday night. The Grizzlies struck first with a power play goal 7:31 in before the Kings evened it with a man advantage goal of their own almost seven minutes later with Brennan Strang scoring with assists to Brock Sawyer and Chris Bachman. The Kings struck again quickly to take a 2-1 lead as Kyle Bodie was set up by Brennan Strang not even 90 seconds later for a 2-1 Kings lead into the second period. After a scoreless second period the Grizzlies came out in the third and tied it early, just 3:30 in, again on the power play. The Kings took their second lead of the night with their second power play goal of the night 9:19 in with Clay Harvey being set up by Brennan Strang and Brock Sawyer. That lead would be short-lived as Justin Courtnall scored just 33 seconds later to knot the game at 3-3 and force overtime. Neither team could score through either overtime, even with both teams being awarded penalty shots to win it. Final shots were 42-34 in favor of Victoria with Chris Rawlings and Matthew Wong being the goalies of record. The Kings were 2 for 7 on the power play while Victoria went 2 for 8.
The Kings and Dogs met in Powell River on game #2 of the season for both teams, a 4-1 Powell River win on September 8th at the Powell River Rec Complex. The Dogs actually led 1-0 after one in that game, before the Kings tied it in the second and the third period began with 1-1 on the board. The Dogs began that third period on a 5 on 3 power play but they couldn?t connect. Later, they got in penalty trouble themselves that saw the Kings take control on a 5 on 3 of their own with two goals in a span of just 17 seconds that blew the game open with eight minutes to go in regulation. The Kings would score a short-handed empty netter with 1:56 to go for the 4-1 final.
Thursday night the pre game show from the ?Dog Pound? kicks off at 6:45pm with the puck drop at 7:00pm. Catch all the action on your radio in the Alberni Valley on 93.3 The Peak FM, and anywhere in the world on your computer through the BCHL?s Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
The Grizzlies enter play Friday night with a record of 0-1-1 and 1 after a 3-2 OT loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals at the BIG STICK on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies did a good job to get to overtime much like the Dogs did on Saturday against the Caps, as Victoria was down 2-0 after one period with the Capitals finding the net twice on the power play. In the second the Grizzlies trimmed the gap to 2-1 with Pierre Girard scoring unassisted at the 8:05 mark. With 6:54 to go in regulation the comeback was complete with Gary Nunn scoring the equalizer from Justin Courtnall and Keenan Desmet as the game headed to OT. In 3 on 3 double overtime Bryce Reddick was the hero as he scored the winner unassisted at the 1:50 mark for the 3-2 Caps win. Shots on goal favored the Capitals 42-38. Matthew Wong took the loss in goal for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies went 0 for 5 on the power play while killing off 5 of 7 Cowichan man-advantages.
The Dogs and Grizzlies are familiar with each other over the last couple of seasons, with the Grizzlies ending the Dogs season last year in round one of the playoffs, a series that was ugly at times. These clubs have also seen each other in exhibition play this season with the first game in Alberni ending 4-4 before the Grizzlies shellacked the Dogs 8-3 at Bear Mountain. Of course this all means absolutely zilch when it comes to Friday night.
Friday?s pre game show from Victoria is on the air at 6:45 with the puck drop scheduled for 7:00. Catch it all on your radio in the Alberni Valley on 93.3 The Peak FM, and anywhere in the world on your computer through the BCHL?s Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
Audio:
?Last Two, Next Two?
Click the underlined links to listen
