Bulldogs at Grizzlies tonight for winner take all Game 7

For the second year in the row the Bulldogs will visit the Grizzlies for the deciding game of a series as it's Game 7 of this Island Semi Final series at the Q Centre tonight. Most would have thought three days ago that it would not come to this, and seven days ago no one would have believed that it would come to this under the circumstances that it has, with the Bulldogs having three chances to put it away. Just ten days ago most would have thought that the Bulldogs weren't even going to make the Playoffs at all, with a magic number of two on the last day of the season. As I always say, expect the unexpected.

Most importantly though is how the Bulldogs have to forget that happened on the last two nights. They are just as relevant as the six months. All that matters now is embracing the opportunity that presents itself, and that's ONE game to win a series. One game to continue their season -for some their careers, and for their team and fans a chance to defend their Island Championship.    

Last year when these teams met in the deciding game of a series it was a Game 5, and it was the second round of the Playoffs, the Island Finals

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The Bulldogs might be playing without Captain Tryg Strand, after he picked up a Major Penalty for Checking from Behind with less than four minutes left last night. Pretty tough play for Strand as it appeared he was right on the back pocket of Travis Stephens on a race to the puck into the corner and Stephens got there first and touched the puck and immediately dead stopped.

I understand the onus is on the hitter but I don't understand what else Strand can do in this case. It's down to the dying minutes of an elimination Playoff game and a race to the puck and he's doing nothing more than hustling after it and has a millisecond to realize that Stephens is stopping directly in front of him instead of continuing down the boards. At the same time the onus has to be on the player to look after themselves and always expect to be hit, especially in hockey at this time of the year. However I'm sure the other side sees it very differently.    

Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM brought to you by Pacific Chevrolet begins with the pregame show at 7:00 and the puck drop to follow at 7:15pm with myself, Bruce MacDonald and Dan Tisserand providing the Play-by-Play, Colour/Analysis and Teams and Player Statistics.

If you aren't in listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Matt Hansen, now with Colorado College of the NCAA's NCHC.

Hammer