It's down to now or never for the Bulldogs (16-27-7-2, 5th Island) as they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals (22-26-3-2, 3rd Island) tonight at the Dog Pound for the second-to-last regular season meeting between the teams.
The Bulldogs were last in action Saturday night at home, where they dropped their fourth straight, 3-0 to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Capitals last played on Sunday afternoon at home, where they topped the Merritt Centennials 4-3.
These teams last met February 1st in Duncan, a 6-2 Bulldog win. You just never know what this game is going to do next - the Bulldogs scored a season high six goals in that game, and have scored just four goals in their four games that followed, including three in one of them - the next game in fact. They have been shut out in two of their last three games, and scored once in Nanaimo. It all sounds hollow, but they have most certainly had their chances - plenty of them in fact. Here's hoping the law of averages works out, and they can create enough opportunities to get some bounces.
The Bulldogs lead the head to head series against the Capitals with a 3-1-1-1 record, good for 8 points. The Caps are 2-3-0-1, for 5 points. The Bulldogs have out scored the Capitals 23-16 and have out shot them 235-187 in going 5 for 23 on the power play while the Capitals are 4 for 29. The Bulldogs have scored four shorthanded goals against the Capitals.
After a stretch of four straight disheartening losses, at the worst possible time - the Bulldogs can ill afford to be just that - disheartened. Those points are gone, and the damage is done. Now they need to reverse the trend, and win four in a row. Or six. The Dogs are eight points back of the Capitals. That's not good, of course. However some simple math says if the Dogs win their two head to head games against the Capitals, that deficit is just four points. If they win their game in hand, that deficit is just two points. Then it's down to being better in their remaining games, and getting some out of town scoreboard assistance. Simple, right? It's never simple, or easy, but the point I'm trying to make is - it's not over. Unless anyone starts to think it is.
We'll have it all covered for you on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM, with our broadcast taking to the airwaves with the pregame show at 6:45, with the puck drop to follow just after 7:00pm. Bruce MacDonald provides the colour commentary and analysis, Dan Tisserand compiles team and player statistics and I call the play-by-play.
Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Ian Douglas, the play-by-play voice of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, who the Dogs visit Friday night.
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.hockeytv.com
No comments:
Post a Comment