The Alberni Valley Bulldogs will be returning home tied up 2-2 against their first round opponents in the B.C. Hockey League’s Coastal Conference Quarterfinals.
The Bulldogs used a three-goal opening period win Game 3 by score of 5-3 against the Coquitlam Express on Tuesday night in Coquitlam, but dropped Game 4 the next evening by a score of 3-1.
The first period of Game 4 was scoreless, but it was a former Bulldogs player who got things started for Coquitlam on Wednesday night. Forward Cole Melady scored late at the end of the second to give the Express a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Coquitlam managed to double their lead just two minutes in before Port Alberni’s Hayden Stavroff cut the lead in half with a powerplay marker. Despite a battle by the Bulldogs, Coquitlam scored again and took the game 3-1. Bulldogs goaltender Callum Tung made 39 saves in the loss, while Coquitlam goaltender Adam Manji made 25 saves.
The series returns to the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Friday, April 12. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Bulldogs’ office or online at www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca.
Game 6 will take place in Coquitlam on Saturday. If a Game 7 is necessary, it will take place in Port Alberni on Tuesday, April 16.