COSTANTINI’S 46 SAVES NOT ENOUGH AS COLTS EDGE BULLDOGS IN OT
HAMILTON, ONTARIO. Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Marco Costantini turned in a scintillating effot, stopping 46 of 50 Barrie shots but it just wouldn’t be enough as the Colts knotted the game late and picked up the victory in overtime.
For the second straight game the Hamilton Bulldogs got off to exactly the start they wanted, just 0:25 into the game Payton Vescio would strip the puck in neutral ice and drive forward on a 2-on-1 with Logan Morrison who would snap home his 11th of the year. Adversity would build as the period would move along however and the Colts found momentum. Aiden Brown would strike first, his 6th, at 1:59 to tie the game before back to back power-plays for the Colts would see Jason Willms dig the puck loose and bury his 8th at 10:53. Marco Costantini was fantastic in the first, stopping 22 of 24 shots thrown his way and keeping the Bulldogs in the game while they tried to find a rhythm. That moment would arrive at 17:16 of the first when Avery Hayes looked like he would circle the Barrie net and instead threw the puck on goal banking it off Arturs Silovs glove and in for his 8th of the season tying the game at 2-2.
Following a scuffle at the end of the opening period the Bulldogs would open the second frame with 1:52 of 5-on-3 time. The power-play wouldn’t prove fruitful but at 8:26 of the period, Jan Jenik would extend his scoring streak to 25 games. Gavin White would work the boards to get the puck to Jenik, who in turn would walk off the back boards, shedding a check in the process and while falling to the ice and finding Navrin Mutter just off the right post to score his 3rd of the season and giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Costantini would continue to make himself a story in the second frame, a stop of Luke Bignell on a breakaway headlining his handiwork of the period and keeping the Bulldogs one goal lead in-tact along with 32 stops through 40 minutes.
The third period would see a battle back and forth with teams trading momentum and the Bulldogs staying in front until a late power-play for the Colts. At 11:22 Tyson Forester would find himself with possession at the left circle and traffic in front as he fired home for his 16th of the year tying the game and sending it to ovetime.
Overtime was a game of possession and the Colts would take advantage through their veteran captain as Jason Willms found a dead zone to the side of Marco Costatnini’s goal and tipped in Aiden Brown’s effort to win the game for Barrie by a 4-3 final.
The Hamilton Bulldogs return to action on Friday, December 6th at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga at 7:00pm for the beginning of a home and home with the Steelheads which will conclude on Saturday, December 7th back at First Ontario Centre for a 4:00pm puck drop.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2019-20 season tickets, flex packs or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com
