The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are moving on to the next round of the BC Hockey League playoffs after defeating the reigning Fred Page Cup winners in five games.
The Bulldogs were tied up 1-1 with the Surrey Eagles stepping into the Dawg Pound last week, but after two big wins, they left the Alberni Valley Multiplex with the Eagles on the brink of elimination.
The Bulldogs picked up a 5-2 win for Game 3 on April 8, but for Game 4 the following night, it took three overtime periods to determine a winner. Cole Bishop picked up his second goal of the night, off a pass from Wyatt Davis, at 8:23 of the third overtime to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 win. Bulldogs' goalie Colin Winn set a franchise record for saves in a playoff game (78), and the Bulldogs set a franchise record for the longest game (108:23 minutes).
Up 3-1 against the Eagles, the Bulldogs returned to Surrey on April 11 determined to finish the series off. The Eagles had a glorious chance to open the scoring just 16 seconds into the game, but Winn made a glove save on Leo Eperjesi to keep it scoreless. Three minutes later it was 1-0 for the visiting team, as Zeke Nicholson beat Aidan Fischer on a wrist shot from the slot.
The Eagles tied things up late in the third period, but the Bulldogs came out flying to open the final frame, taking a 2-1 lead when Ben Buckley snapped a shot five hole on Fischer two minutes into the third. Less than two minutes later, it was 3-1 as Hudson Closson snapped a shot home from the left circle. The Eagles got one back, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 3-2, but Jacob Terpstra took advantage of a powerplay opportunity to make it 4-2.
The Eagles went to the powerplay late in the third, and got back within one with just over two minutes to play, but the Bulldogs managed to hold onto their lead for a 4-3 final score and a 4-1 series win.
With the win, the Bulldogs will move on to the second round of the playoffs. As of Sunday, April 13, the Bulldogs' opponent had not yet been determined. Visit www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca for the most up-to-date information.
