5 Keys to Game 3 Presented By Mercedes-Benz Burlington
Game 1: Hamilton 5 – Niagara 4 OT
Game 2: Hamilton 3 – Niagara 2 OT
Game 3: Hamilton @ Niagara Monday April 9th at 7 pm
Leading Scorers
Hamilton
Matthew Strome
GP: 7 G: 3 A: 10 PTS: 13
Niagara
Akil Thomas
GP: 7 G: 4 A: 5 PTS: 9
- Beware the Streaks
A trio of Bulldogs enter tonight’s game riding big point streaks. Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matthew Strome, and Dallas Stars prospect Nicholas Caamano each have points in all of Hamilton’s 7 playoff games. Strome leads the team with 13 points while Caamano sits 5th on the team with 8 points. Game 2’s overtime hero Ryan Moore is also on an impressive 6 game point streak that has seen him put up 4 goals and 10 points in that span.
- Get to the Front of the Net
The Bulldogs had success when getting traffic in front of the Niagara net in Game 2. Of the 11 shots that Hamilton got from below the circles, two of them found the back of the net including the overtime winner. Matthew Strome buried the opening goal of the game standing just inches outside of the blue paint of the IceDogs goal, while Ryan Moore potted a rebound at the side of the crease in overtime to put the game away.
- Who’s Hot?
Hamilton
Robert Thomas
Thomas has been extremely reliable for the Bulldogs since his trade from London in January, and in the playoffs, it’s been no different. Thomas had a goal and 2 assists in Hamilton’s first 2 games against Niagara while being 63.3% (38/60) in the faceoff circle. In Hamilton’s 7 playoff games this year Thomas has 4 multi-point games.
Niagara
Sam Miletic
Miletic’s has been a shot-generating machine for the IceDogs through the 1st 2 games of round 2. He has been responsible for nearly 20% of Niagara’s shots on goal (11 of 57) and it has resulted in a goal and an assist. After picking up only one assist in 12 playoff games last year, Miletic has been an offensive catalyst for the IceDogs in these playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect is second on the IceDogs in playoff points with 8, and is tied for the team lead in playoff goals with 4.
- Stay out of the Box
There were a staggering 18 total penalties taken in Game 2, twice as many as in Game 1. The Bulldogs’ red-hot power play continues to shine as they capitalized on 2 of the 7 power play chances that Niagara gave them in Game 2 and are now a league best 13-31=41.9% in the playoffs. The overtime winner from Ryan Moore was the only even strength goal scored in Game 2.
- Road Warriors
The Bulldogs headed in to the playoffs with the best away record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and that continues in their first two away games in the playoffs. The Bulldogs had arguably their two best games of Round 1 in Games 3 and 4 in Ottawa where they defeated the 67’s 8-1 and 5-2.
The IceDogs return to the Meridian Centre down in the series 2-0. Niagara went 3-0 in their home games against the Oshawa Generals in Round 1.
Mercedes Benz Burlington wants to give you the chance to win a Mercedes Benz for the weekend. Visit the Mercedes Benz booth at all Bulldogs home playoff games in front of section 117 on the concourse to enter.
