The Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Coquitlam Express are all tied up after the first two games of the Coastal Conference Quarterfinals. The Bulldogs picked up one win at home, but dropped Game 2 to the visiting team last weekend.
The first game of the series was a dramatic one, as the Bulldogs and Express traded goals back and forth. By the end of the third period, the score was tied 4-4 and the game went to overtime. It was Grayson Badger who played the hero for the Bulldogs, tipping home a Hayden Stavroff shot at 15:39 of the first overtime period to win Game 1 for the home team.
Despite Stavroff opening the scoring for the Bulldogs in the first period of Game 2, the Express came out firing in the second period and scored three times in a six-minute stretch to seize control of the game. Although Braden Blace managed to pull the Bulldogs within one just 21 seconds into the third period, that was as close as they got on the night. Coquitlam found the back of the empty net and took Game 2 with a 4-2 final score.
The series is now even at 1-1 as the scene shifts back to Coquitlam for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Game 5 will take place at the Alberni Valley Multiplex on Friday, April 12. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the Bulldogs office or online at www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca.