The Bulldogs were last in action Sunday afternoon in Surrey, where they extended their points streak to four games (two wins, a tie, and overtime loss) with a 6-2 win over the Eagles. The Kings meanwhile were in Victoria last night, where they did the Bulldogs a big favour in beating the Grizzlies 6-2. The loss for Victoria means that the Bulldogs now control their own destiny. With Victoria holding the first tiebreaker - most wins - it was possible before last night's result that the Bulldogs could have won their two remaining games but still ended up out of the playoffs if the Grizzlies also won both of their contests. The picture is now a bit clearer - two Bulldog wins, and they are in.
These teams last met January 22nd in Powell River, a 3-1 Kings win. The last meeting at the Dog Pound was a 6-1 Bulldog win on January 10th.
The Bulldogs will need to bring their absolute best plain and simple, with the stakes as they are as they try to qualify for the playoffs and extend their season. The Kings are always a tough team to play against, Kent Lewis' teams always play hard and are always solid fundamentally and don't give up much and make you earn anything you are going to get.
The Kings are locked in their position within the Division as they unable to move up in the standings and catch the Clippers and unable to be caught by Cowichan as they have 2nd place and home ice advantage in the first round clinched. It's always an interesting scenario, as while the Kings might not have the desperation that comes with fighting for something you can certainly bet that they will want to be playing good hockey to go into the playoffs on a confident note. Sometimes playing without pressure can be both a good thing and a bad thing, it's a fine line between loose and relaxed and being too loose and relaxed.
The Kings have been red hot in February, running up a 6-1-1-0 record. The second "1" is a tie - when the new league website launched the standings were changed from win-loss-tie-overtime loss to now read win-loss-overtime loss-tie. Call me old school I guess!
We'll have all the action from start to finish covered for you on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM. As always, the pregame show begins at 6:45, with the puck drop and game action to follow at 7:00ish. Dan Tisserand will compile and provide team and player statistics, Bruce MacDonald will add the colour and analysis and I'll call the play-by-play.
If you aren't in listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen to/watch the game by:
Listening Live on your computer: 93.3 The Peak FM
Listening Live on your smartphone: Tune In Radio
Watching Live on your computer/smartphone: Fast Hockey
Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Captain Ryan Lough, who is currently playing in his sophomore season with the NCAA's St Lawrence Saints.
Along with scoring the game winning goal in the first round of the 2012-2013 playoffs against the Nanaimo Clippers in the fifth and deciding game of the series, Ryan also assisted on the overtime game winner in the fifth and deciding game of the Island Championship series over the Grizzlies.
Hammer
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