The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have taken a 2-0 lead against the Chilliwack Chiefs in BCHL playoff action.
The first two games of the Coastal Conference finals, which both took place at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, were very different.
On Friday night (April 28), the two clubs combined for seven goals in the first period alone. At the end of the night, the Bulldogs emerged victorious with a 9-5 win against the visiting Chiefs.
Scorers for Port Alberni were Owen Desilets, Jax Wismer, Dakota MacIntosh, Matthew Maltais, Nicholas Beneteau, Brandon Buhr, AJ Vasko and Ethan Bono (two goals), while Michael La Starza, AJ Lacroix, Brady Milburn, Dakota MacGillivray and Abram Wiebe scored for Chilliwack.
Saturday, however, was a battle between goaltenders Campbell Arnold and Lucas Szyszka, and the goals were in short supply. After a scoreless first frame, Milburn opened the scoring for Chilliwack in the second and the Bulldogs tied things up just a few minutes later with a goal from Zeke Nicholson. There was no more scoring until Bulldogs defenceman Emanuelson Charbonneau nabbed a goal with less than two minutes remaining in the final frame for a 2-1 final.
Arnold made 24 saves for the Bulldogs in the win, while Szyszka made 29 saves for Chilliwack.
For the Bulldogs, it was the third home game in a row that they have played in front of a sold-out crowd. The series will now be heading to Chillwack for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 3. Game 5, if necessary, will return to the Dawg Pound on Friday, May 5.
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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