It seems like just yesterday that I was writing the first ?Weekly Preview? article, yet here we are going into the final two games of the Bulldogs season. Friday the Dogs play their final road game as they visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Saturday night the Dogs close out their season on home ice when the Nanaimo Clippers make the trek over the hump.
Friday will be the 12th meeting of the season between the Dogs and Capitals. The Capitals lead the season series with a record of 8 wins, 2 losses, and one overtime loss. Ending December and heading into January, the Dogs had a two game winning streak going against the Caps. Since then, the Caps have owned the last two head to head meetings with 7-3 and 6-1 victories. In the most recent game, a 6-1 Caps win February 7th in Duncan ? the Dogs opened the scoring before the game was a minute old and actually outshot the Capitals throughout by a total of 47-32 but they couldn?t get a break around their own net, or the Capitals net.
The Capitals enter this weekend with a record of 34-18-1 and 5 and 74 points. They don?t have anything to play for in their last two games of the season as they have already clinched second place in the Island Division and home ice against the Nanaimo Clippers in round one of the playoffs. Having said that, the Dogs still shouldn?t be expecting anything less than a great effort from the Capitals as they surely will want to go into the playoffs on a roll.
The Caps were last in action Saturday in Victoria where they lost to the Grizzlies 5-4 in overtime. The Grizzlies led 2-0 after one period before the Caps bounced back to make it 2-1 early in the second on a Curtis Gedig power play goal. Just 20 seconds later the Grizzlies would get that one right back to lead 3-1 after two periods. The Capitals made it 3-2 again early in the third on a power play goal by Anthony Perdicaro. Just two minutes later the Caps tied it up with a goal from Mikael Jung. The Grizzlies again took the lead on a Brian Nugent power play goal with seven minutes to play to lead 4-3, but the Capitals forced overtime with the tying goal coming from Mickey Spencer with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. The Grizzlies found the winner before overtime was even 20 seconds old.
Final shots favoured Victoria 37-28 with Chris Rawlings taking the loss in net. The Caps and Grizzlies were both 2 for 5 on the power play.
Friday?s pregame show from the Island Savings Centre kicks off at 7:15 with the puck dropping at 7:30 on 93.3 The Peak FM and the BCHL Fanzone
Saturday night the Dogs season ends as the Nanaimo Clippers make their sixth trip to the Dog Pound. The Clippers lead the season series of 9-1-0 and 1. Overtime has been a regular occurrence between these two teams this season as the Dogs record head to head is 2-6-0 and 3. Three of the last four games at the Dog Pound have gone to overtime, with the Clippers breaking the Dogs hearts winning all three, including most recently on Valentine?s Day when Steve Mason scored the winner 30 seconds into double overtime for the 4-3 Clipper win. The Clippers enter this week with a record of 28-22-2 and 6 for 64 points and third spot in the Island Division. The Clippers are like the Capitals in that they don?t have anything to play for to end the season besides the goal of going into the playoffs feeling good about themselves.
The Clippers were last in action Sunday afternoon at home where they lost 7-4 to the Victoria Grizzlies. The game didn?t start well for the Clippers, as the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead before the game was even five minutes old. The Clippers battled back in the second to make it 2-1 just over five minutes in with an Anders Franzon shorthanded goal. With five minutes left in the period the Grizzlies took their two goal lead back with a power play goal for a 3-1 lead. Just 90 seconds later they added another one as it was 4-1 Victoria. With 1:02 left in the period Tyler Pistone got the Clippers back into it with a power play goal to trim the gap to 4-2 but that would be very short-lived as the Grizzlies got that one back just nine seconds later for a 5-2 lead after two. The Clippers gave it a valiant effort to make it a game in the third as Eric Filiou found the net to make it 5-3 before the period was five minutes old. Just two minutes later the Victoria lead was down to one with a Steve Mason power play goal making it 5-4 Grizzlies. That would be as close as the Clippers comeback would get though as Victoria responded by adding two in just over 30 seconds for the 7-4 final.
Final shots favoured Victoria 32-31 Jonathan Jobin taking the loss in goal. The Grizzlies were 2 for 8 on the power play while the Clippers were 2 for 6 while also scoring once shorthanded.
Saturday?s pregame show from the Dog Pound is on the air at 6:45 with the play-by-play following at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM and the BCHL Fanzone.
Game Day Audio ? ?Next Two? Click the links to listen
