5 Things: Dog Fight Part 5

Hamilton Home Record: 22-8-0-3

Niagara Away Record: 12-13-5-2

 

Scoring Leaders

Hamilton

Robert Thomas

GP: 46 G: 23 A: 48 PTS: 71

 

Niagara

Sam Miletic

GP: 60 G: 33 A: 54 PTS: 87

 

1. Who Will Play Whom?

On Thursday night, the Steelheads became the 8^th and final Eastern Conference team to clinch a spot in the 2018 OHL Playoffs. With only a few games remaining in the regular season, the question is; who will play who in the playoffs? With the Bulldogs and Colts having both clinched first place in their divisions, the top 2 spots in the Eastern Conference are locked up. However, the final placing of the remaining six teams is still to be determined. The IceDogs currently sit 5^th in the East, but they could finish anywhere between 3^rd and 8^th place.

 

2. Gunning for Top Spot

Hamilton’s Last 10 Games: 7-3-0-0

The Bulldogs will look to get back to their winning ways as they saw their 6-game win streak snapped after a 6-3 loss to Barrie Wednesday night. The offence has been on track as of late, scoring 3 or more goals in each of their last 6 games, averaging 4 goals per game over that stretch. With Barrie’s overtime loss to Owen Sound Thursday night, the Bulldogs need just 3 more points to clinch 1^st place in the Eastern Conference.

 

3. Road Woes

Niagara’s Last 10 Games: 4-4-2-0

Games away from the Meridian Centre have not been kind to Niagara as of late. The IceDogs are 0-6-2-1 in their past 9 road games, and have averaged 4 goals against per game over that stretch. However, the IceDogs arrive at FirstOntario Centre Saturday night having won their last two games, including an 8-2 beat down on the Flint Firebirds on Thursday night.

 

4. Who’s Hot?

Hamilton

Ryan Moore

The overager forward from Troy, Michigan has been heating up over the past 5 games. Moore has 5 points and 25 shots on goal in that span, including a 2 goal first star performance against the Oshawa Generals March 3^rd. Moore has fit in nicely since coming to the Bulldogs in late November with 36-points (9-goals;27-assists) in the 39 games he’s played with the Black and Gold.

 

Niagara

Akil Thomas

With 8 points in his last 5 games, the former Toronto Marlboro is having a great year for the IceDogs. Thomas has a point-per-game rating of 1.19 and his plus/minus is up a whopping 28 points from last year. Thomas is eligible for the upcoming 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and was recently ranked 10^th on the North American skaters list by NHL Central Scouting.

 

5. Battle for the K-9 Cup

Head to Head Records

HAM 1-2-0-1             NIAG 3-0-1-0

 

This will be the 5^th of 6 meetings between the two Eastern Conference clubs this year. The battle for the K-9 Cup is not over quite yet, as the Bulldogs can tie the season series by winning the remaining 2 regular season games in regulation.

Brandon Saigeon has the hot hand for the Black and Gold against the IceDogs this year with 5-points in the season series so far. On the opposing side, Ben Jones has enjoyed playing against the Bulldogs this year with 9 points in the 4 games.

 

For tickets to tonight’s game visit: http://bit.ly/2oY0REy