DOGS FALL FLAT IN SUNDAY DEFEAT TO STEELHEADS
BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. The Brantford Bulldogs squared off against the Mississauga Steelheads in a St. Patrick’s Day matinee on Sunday marking the 6th and final meeting of the season between the the teams with 2 crucial points in a compacted Eastern Conference on the line.
The Bulldogs began the frame driving shots on goaltender Jack Ivankovic with an opportunity rising from Calvin Crombie on the doorstep, but Ivankovic turned the hard-nosed winger aside. The Steelheads opened the scoring at 8:07 with traffic in front of David Egorov’s crease, Gabriel Chiarot is able to trickle one under the pads to score his 5th of the season. Just 29 seconds later at 8:36 the Steelheads doubled their lead with Stevie Leskovar fidning Jack Van Volsen ahead the left side in a 2-on-1 with William Eggleton. Van Volsen elected to shoot scoring his 20th of the season. The opening frame closed with David Egorov making a brilliant stop on a shorthanded rush from Angus MacDonell, keeping the game 2-0 through 20 minutes for the visitors.
The middle frame was very much a mirror image of the opening frame. The Bulldogs got out to another strong start creating an opportunity to cut into the Steelheads lead with a play arising from Marek Vanacker dealing the puck to Patrick Thomas in the right corner who tries to set up Daniil Sobolev, but he gets tripped up and ended up sliding into the goal post with the puck under him. After Luca Testa rang a goal post, the Steelheads were able to turn the frame to their favour on the power-play at 13:10. Adam Zidlicky working low found Chas Sharpe at the blueline who’s shot was deflected by Mason Zebeski for his 22nd of the season and a 3-0 Steelheads lead. The Bulldogs have an opportunity blooming from Jake O’Brien who tries and set up Marek Vanacker, but the Bulldogs luck is stopped by Ivankovic who makes the initial block and O’Brien tries to get the rebound. With the Steelheads again on the power-play at 15:37, Lawson Sherk’s stick was knocked out of his hands by Jakub Fibigr, giving the Steelheads a defacto 5-on-3. Lucas Karmiris finds Chas Sharpe who is able to set up Mason Zebeski who scores his 2nd of the game and 23rd of the season to put Mississauga up 4-0. In the dying seconds Calvin Crombie gets a break and a lead off of the Steelheads defenceman but Ivankovic denies him the opportunity. The Steelheads exited the middle frame holding a 4-0 lead
The visitors add to their lead on the power play at 0:21 into the frame with Angus MacDonell picking up the rebound to score his 30th of the season. However, at 0:39 the Bulldogs are able to score there first goal and cut into the Steelheads lead. With Marek Vanacker finding Florian Xhekaj who instead of taking the drive he fires one over to Adrian Rebelo who is able to get one over the right glove of Ivankovic to score his 5th of the season. The Steelheads continue to hit the scoresheet at 4:25 the play begins with Jakub Fibigr finding Adam Zidlicky who somehow finds the back of the net to score his 10th of the season. The Bulldogs try and cut into the Steelheads lead with Owen Protz gaining an opportunity, but Ivankovic makes the block. The Steelheads score another goal on the advantage at 12:37 making it 7-1. The play began with Mason Zebeski finding Jakub Fibigr where Chas Sharpe is able to score his 19th of the season. At 16:58, the Bulldogs are able to get one on the board with Daniel Chen sending it around to Jake O’Brien who sets up Calvin Crombie to score his 13th of the season. The Mississauga Steelheads are able to take a 7-2 victory over the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, March 20 against a clash with the Niagara IceDogs with it being Fan Appreciation night for the last regular season home game with puck drop at 7pm at the Brantford Civic Center.