BULLDOGS TAKE A COMMANDING SERIES LEAD WITH 6-4 GAME 3 WIN
HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The chase for the Bobby Orr Trophy moved north on Wednesday night as the Bulldogs visited the North Bay Memorial Gardens for Game 3 with each team down an important piece. The Battalion entered Game 3 missing leading playoff scorer Mitchell Russell while the Bulldogs were without the services of elite defensemen Nathan Staios.
With a jump in their step being back home, the Battalion struck first on home ice as a heavy shot stung the foot of Bulldogs defensemen of Noah Van Vliet which Paul Christopolous fed to the top of the right circle that was wired through a screen by Matvey Petrov for the 1-0 lead at 2:42. After a stunning Marco Costantini breakaway save on Kyle MacDonald, the momentum turned with the Bulldogs shorthanded. A shot-block by Lawson Sherk led to a 2-on-1 with Avery Hayes with Sherk on the right feeding Hayes down the middle to roof the puck over Dom Divincentiis, his 6th of the playoffs, tying the game 1-1 at 8:14 on the shorthanded marker. Avery Hayes continued to make himself the story of the first period as at 13:48 Logan Morrison won a right wing offensive zone draw, pushing the puck to his goal-scoring winger who set himself on the left side of the circle and beat DiVincentiis with a quick release for his 7th of the post-season giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 they would take to the locker room through 20 minutes.
The second period was an outstanding back and forth that opened :34 seconds in as Jan Mysak entered the zone with possession on the left, getting the puck to the slot for George Diaco who couldn’t get a shot away but did find Mark Duarte at the top of the slot for his 1st of the playoffs to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. North Bay wouldn’t let the game slip away however, after killing an early period checking from behind minor, Anthony Romani & Nic Sima each recorded goals 3:57 apart with Romani’s on a goal-mouth scramble at 4:08 & Sima’s a tip off a tremendous Petrov pass at 8:05 to tie the game 3-3. The Bulldogs then took some momentum off a successful penalty kill of their own as Marco Costantini played the puck forward to a streaking Avery Hayes whose shot off the right circle was blocked but the rebound bounced right to Logan Morrison for his 12th of the playoffs with Marco Costantini picking up his 2nd assist of the playoffs on the play at 11:25. Before the period was out Costantini had another moment to shine, making a series of three saves within seconds on a defensive zone scramble with the final one a challenging tipped shot. Through 40 minutes of play the Bulldogs held a 4-3 lead in a tremendous back and forth contest.
The Bulldogs got the start to the third period they needed, at 2:34 Patrick Thomas with a great pass from the right wing half boards found Jorian Donovan whose middle of the line shot was blocked only to fall to Ryan Winterton, lifting the puck over DiVincentiis for his 5th of the playoffs giving the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead. North Bay again fought back, after a double-minor to Lawson Sherk Brandon Coe struck in front of the Hamilton net for his 7th of the playoffs at 14:24 giving the Battalion a crack in the window. Marco Costantini continued to battle, turning aside 27 Battalion shots and his last one led to Mason McTavish getting a bouncing puck to Logan Morrison who played a give and go with Ryan Winterton towards an empty net that Morrison hit for his 13th of the playoffs at 19:28 securing the Bulldogs a 6-4 win and a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Hamilton Bulldogs will look to capture the Bobby Orr Trophy on Friday night at the North Bay Memorial Gardens with Game 4 commencing at 7:00pm.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022 playoff tickets or playoff flex packs call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com
