The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are moving on to the next round in the BC Hockey League playoffs after a decisive Game 7 win against the Coquitlam Express.
The Bulldogs picked up a 4-1 win against the visiting Express in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,854 fans at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
The first period was a tense one, with neither team scoring. It was Braxton Buckberger of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs who got things started in the second period, and Grayson Badger doubled the lead with a goal of his own. Less than a minute after Badger’s goal, Coquitlam’s Nate Crema cut the lead in half, but his teammate Luke Vardy took a cross-checking penalty and Bulldogs forward Hayden Stavroff picked up a powerplay marker to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead going into the third.
In the third period, Brady McIsaac added to the Bulldogs lead. Although the Express put up a fight until the end, the Bulldogs ultimately won the game 4-1.
Bulldogs goaltender Callum Tung made 36 saves in the win, while Coquitlam goaltender Adam Manji made 26 saves.
Next up, the Bulldogs will be headed to the Coastal Conference Semifinals where they will face the Chilliwack Chiefs in a best-of-seven series. The series will start in Chilliwack this weekend, then will shift to Port Alberni for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 23 and 24).