The Bulldogs play their last three games of the season this weekend on another ?Amazing Race Road Trip? as they go Island-Mainland-Sunshine Coast on consecutive days to visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals Friday and the Burnaby Express Saturday before ending the season Sunday afternoon in Powell River.
With Powell River?s win over Victoria on Tuesday, they have clinched a playoff spot and eliminated the Capitals from post season play in the process. This has reduced the Bulldogs ?spoiler? role to the Burnaby Express, and where they will sit in the Coastal Conference when the playoffs begin. They could end up as high as 2nd for a first round bye, or as low as fifth. Entering Friday, the Express are tied with the Surrey Eagles for third in the Conference, three points behind the second place Langley Chiefs. The Chiefs have a game in hand on both Surrey and Burnaby. By Saturday night, second spot might not be a possibility for the Express, as they need to win a head to head matchup with Langley Friday night to keep their hopes alive.
Friday night sees the ?Battle of the Valleys? heat up one more time as the Dogs visit the Caps. It?s the last game of the season for the Caps, so the Dogs should be ready for a team wanting to go out with a bang. One would think that the fact that the Caps are no longer fighting for their playoff lives would play into the Dogs paws, but don?t underestimate a team that is playing for pride with nothing to lose. The Dogs themselves have proved this point over their last three games. The Caps lead the season series 6 wins to 2, winning the last head to head game 4-0 in Port Alberni on February 1st. The last time these teams met at the ?Big Stick? was a 5-2 Capitals win back on December 28th. The Dogs do have a win in the Caps building this season, a 4-3 come from behind triumph on November 2nd.
The Capitals have hit a slump at the worst of times and it?s cost them a playoff spot, as they have lost six in a row going into Friday. They were last in action Sunday afternoon in Langley, where they dropped a 7-4 decision to the Chiefs. Down 1-0 after Langley got on the board on the power play before the game was four minutes old, the Caps fired back to lead 2-1 after one with goals from Brandon Clark at the 8:39 mark and Brooks Robinson with 5:23 to play in the period. The Chiefs would own the second, scoring three times to lead 4-2 after 40 minutes. They would build the lead to 5-2 before the third was three minutes old, before the Caps showed considerable heart to come back and make a game of it scoring two quick ones to make it 5-4 as Spencer Edwards made it 5-3 4:58 into the period and then Joey Massingham found the net just over two minutes later. The comeback would fall short with Langley finding the net with less than three minutes to go for a 6-4 advantage. An empty netter sealed it for the 7-4 final. Shots favoured Langley 34-20 with Kiefer Smiley taking the loss in goal. The Capitals were 0 for 4 on the power play while the Chiefs were 2 for 3.
This should be an interesting game Friday, with two teams playing for their fans, themselves, pride, and fun. With both teams returning plenty of players next year, I?d also expect that individuals from both rosters will be playing for exactly that, their spots on the roster next season.
Friday?s pregame show from the ?BIG STICK? in Duncan kicks off at 7:15 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play shortly after 7:30. Catch all the action on your radio on 93.3 The Peak FM or the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
The Bulldogs make their second and final trip of the season to the Bill Copeland Arena Saturday to face the Express, still looking for their first win against them this season in three tries. All three games have been exciting and back and forth, with the Dogs outshooting the Express every game. To say that Kevin Jebson has been the difference would be an understatement. He has received 1st 2nd and 3rd star honours in the previous three games. The most recent meeting was at the Pound on January 26th, where the Express were 3-2 winners on the strength of two power play goals from Brodie Reid. The Bulldogs were down 3-1 after two before Warren Muir made it 3-2 early in the third. The Bulldogs would have ample opportunities to tie it up, but the aforementioned Jebson was stellar to preserve the lead.
As I mentioned off the top, the Express aren?t fighting for a playoff spot, but rather a playoff position. By the time the Bulldogs roll in Saturday, the picture will be a little clearer after their head to head game against Langley Friday. No matter what happens Friday, the Bulldogs have a big test on their hands in the Express. League leading scorer Carlo Finucci certainly demands special attention, as does the league?s second leading goal scorer, Brodie Reid. The Bill Copeland Arena is notorious for its lack of atmosphere, so the Bulldogs must be ready to play from the outset and they must make their own emotion and energy.
The pregame show is on the air in the Alberni Valley on your radio on 93.3 The Peak FM and on your computer anywhere through the world through the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca starting at 7:15 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:30pm.
The Bulldogs season ends Sunday afternoon as they complete the ?amazing race road trip? when they face the Powell River Kings. Although the Kings have booked their ticket to the playoffs already, I don?t expect them to take their foot off the gas much as they may be out for some revenge against the Dogs, after two straight Bulldog wins by scores of 5-3 and 6-4 at the Pound made their drive to the playoffs more than a little tight. While the Kings certainly have the last laugh as they have made the dance, the Bulldogs hope to have a chuckle themselves by evening the season series at three wins a piece with a victory on Sunday. This match will be the third meeting between the teams in 15 days, and while famil
