Hobie Hedquist earned 1st star honours as he made 34 saves in leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0 Game 3 win over the Langley Rivermen on Tuesday night at the Lodge. Langley still leads the best of 7 BCHL Coastal Conference Semi-Final 2-1. Game 4 is set for tomorrow at 7:15 pm.
Unlike Game 1 & 2 in Port Alberni, it was the Bulldogs who opened the scoring, getting a picture-perfect road start to settle things down. Captain Stephen Castagna got his 4th of the playoffs just 1:34 into the contest to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead as he wired a shot up and over the shoulder of Gundarah.
The game turned into a tight-checking affair and try as they might, the Bulldogs couldn’t find the insurance marker they desperately were looking for until the 3rd period when Brandon Buhr notched his 7th of the post-season, this one on the PP to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Castagna picked up an assist on the goal at 7:45 for his 2nd point of the night.
That was more than enough for Goaltender of the Year finalist Hobie Hedquist on this night. Hedquist delivered his best performance of the playoffs for the Bulldogs as he earned his 1st post-season shutout. Hedquist was particularly strong in the 2nd stanza when Langley threw 18 shots on goal as they pressed for the equalizer.
Special teams were rock solid on the night for the Bulldogs as they went 1 for 3 with the man-advantage, and held Langley scoreless on 3 chances.
Tickets for Friday’s Game 5 will go on sale at the Bulldogs office tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.
