HOME ICE HOLDS AS HAYES & MORRISON LEAD BULLDOGS 5-0 WIN
HAMILTON, ONTARIO. After staking themselves to the 1-0 series lead on Friday, the Bulldogs returned for Game 2 on Sunday night looking to hold home ice advantage and double their series advantage before everything shifts north.
On their first power-play of the game, early in the first period, the Bulldogs opened the scoring with a left circle rocket from Logan Morrison for his 11th of the season at 4:27 after Ryan Winterton won the puck behind net and sent the puck to Mason McTavish who showed incredible patience going backside to Morrison. Marco Costantini came up big with a kick save off a Battalion opportunity just past the mid-way point of the frame announcing his presence to the near 5,000 fans in attendance keeping the Bulldogs 1-0 lead intact. With .12 seconds left McTavish ripped one upstairs through the dogged check of Avery Winslow for his 5th of the playoffs to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 heading down the tunnel after 20 minutes with Diaco picking up the helper.
After controlling the first period, the Bulldogs opened the second period with Morrison driving the net looking for his second of the game only to be foiled by the poke-check of Dom DiVincentiis. The Troops fought hard with a series of early period opportunities that Costantini was able to turn aside and while the Bulldogs found themselves shorthanded, Arber Xhekaj sent a laser to Avery Hayes through neutral ice for a 2-on-1 with Patrick Thomas that Hayes cashed, going over DiVincentiis’ shoulder at 1:59 to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead on Hayes 4th of the playoffs. After tempers flared just past the 14-minute mark with a pileup in the Hamilton zone, the Bulldogs went back to the power-play and once again struck. Cycling the puck around the outside the Dogs worked down to the bottom of the left-hand circle for a stationed Hayes who hinged off the goal-line and fired upstairs for his 5th of the playoffs and 2nd of the night with Morrison and Nathan Staios picking up the helpers to put the Dogs up 4-0. After Gavin White blew a tire in the neutral zone, Michael Podolioukh raced in on the loose puck but once again Costantini held the door shut turning aside a spirit Battalion effort. After 40 minutes of play the Bulldogs held their 4-0 lead, standing 20 minutes away from home ice holding through the first two games.
Starting off the final frame strong the Bulldogs were on their toes, pressing the attack into the Battalion zone right from puck drop. Just before the mid-way point of the final frame, the Bulldogs power-play returned to the ice after North Bay was flagged for Too Many Men but needed just 7-seconds on the man advantage to convert as Logan Morrison moved the puck low on the left to Avery Hayes who ripped it across the crease for a crashing Ryan Winterton for his 4th of the season at 9:10. Hamilton kept in control of the pace of the third period, outshooting North Bay 15-5 and keeping the front of the net clear. As time expired, the Bulldogs held their 5-0 lead and took a 2-0 series lead with Marco Costantini recording his 10th straight playoff win and 2nd playoff shutout to send the Bulldogs north in control of the Eastern Conference Final.
The Bulldogs are headed down to North Bay for the series shift on Wednesday May 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022 playoff tickets or playoff flex packs call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.