BULLDOGS CLINCH 6TH STRAIGHT PLAYOFF BIRTH IN WIN OVER NIAGARA
HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs were back home on Friday night for the second half of their home and home series against the Niagara IceDogs, with a chance to clinch a playoff birth with a victory (along with an eventual loss by the Frontenacs to the Petes). The Bulldogs opened the home and home series with a 4-3 win at the Meridian Centre on Thursday, their 17th straight win over their QEW Rivals.
Niagara’s first opportunity of the game opened the game’s scoring as Christopher O’Flaherty tipped a Bronson Ride shot from the point past a screened Matteo Drobac just 3:01 into the contest. The lead lasted just 18-seconds as Sahil Panwar stole an errand pass by David Jesus off the right half boards, cutting in from the right faceoff dot and snapped a shot far side past Flores for his 26th of the season, tying the game at 1 at 3:19. Flores walled up his goal while shorthanded as Florian Xhekaj had a pair of golden chances right out front, including sending one off the underside of the front crossbar, but couldn’t beat the Niagara netminder. Despite an 18-7 edge in shots on goal through the opening period, the Bulldogs were locked with the IceDogs, 1-1 after 20 mintes.
Bulldogs’ rookie defenseman Callum Cheynowski opened the second period scoring his first career OHL goal. Ben Bujold carried the puck around the back of the Niagara net sending it back to Ranvir Gill-Shane at the right point who shifted play left to Cheynowski. The rookie made a pivot to slightly change his shooting angle and whistled a drive through a Noah Nelson screen and past Flores to open his OHL account at 1:49 giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. At 6:11 of the middle frame, Cole Brown stepped in the way of an IceDogs zone exit pass, stealing it at the middle of the line and playing it on for Lawson Sherk. The veteran centerman turned the puck to his backhand, carrying through the right circle, fending off an IceDogs defender and lifting his shot over the arm of Flores and inside the post to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead on his 11th of the season. With the Bulldogs on a double minor man-advantage at 19:24, the power-play clicked for the first time on the night, with Sahil Panwar barreling through a check and dropping it off to Patrick Thomas in the right circle who whipped it cross slot to Nick Lardis for a lightning quick release to score his 34th of the season sending the Bulldogs to the locker room up 4-1 through 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs continued the onslaught in the Niagara zone into the third period, with Cole Brown drawing a power-play just prior to the halfway point. On the man-advantage, Nick Lardis moved the puck from the left circle to the right for Sahil Panwar who in turn found Lawson Sherk at the side of the Niagara goal for a quick deflection, tic-tac-goal, for Sherk’s 2nd of the game, 4th of the home & home and 12th of the season putting the Bulldogs up 5-1. Only 27-seconds later, Ben Bujold and Adrian Rebelo raced up the ice on a 2-on 1 sprung by Noah Nelson. As Bujold attempted to toe drag around the stick of Nathan Ribeau, he managed to push the puck to Rebelo’s backhand who banked it off Flores and into the back of the net for his 7th of the season, increasing Hamilton’s total to 6-1 at 9:36. Christopher O’Flaherty added one more for the IceDogs was the hill was far too steep to climb and the Bulldogs walked away with a 6-2 victory. The victory, combined with the Frontenacs loss to the Petes, clinched the Bulldogs their 6th straight playoff appearance.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Sunday afternoon for their last home game of the season, hosting Logan Morrison and the Ottawa 67s for Fan Appreciation Game with a 2:00pm puck drop.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2023 Playoff Ticket options call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
