The Alberni Valley Bulldogs head home this week, down 0-2 against the Victoria Grizzlies in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.
The Bulldogs seemed to be playing catch-up from the drop of the puck on Friday, March 1, dropping an 8-3 decision to the Grizzlies in Game 1 at the Q Centre.
Victoria scored twice in the first period before Mitch Deelstra put the Dogs on the board when he slammed his own rebound past Grizzlies’ starter Kurtis Chapman.
The hosts took control of the game in the second period with four unanswered goals, as top BCHL scorer Alex Newhook set up three Victoria markers in the frame.
Alberni scored twice on the power-play in the third period as Josh Zary tipped a point shot and Keaton Mastrodonato put home a rebound, but Victoria added a pair to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs were shutout on Saturday, dropping Game 2 by a score of 5-0. Both teams played a tight, scoreless first period and the game remained tied until midway through the second when Newhook snapped home a shot from the high slot. Nico Somerville added another five minutes later and the Bulldogs trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes.
Kenny Johnson added a third goal for Victoria just 1:21 into the third and Kyle McGrath and Alex Campbell capped the scoring. Chapman made a number of saves to earn the shutout, including great stops off the sticks of Deelstra and Mastrodonato. The Bulldogs were outshot 42-22 on the evening.
The series now shifts to Port Alberni, with the Bulldogs hosting Game 3 on Tuesday, March 5 and Game 4 on Wednesday, March 6. Both games start at 7 p.m.
