LARDIS SCORES A PAIR, DROBAC STOPS 40 AS DOGS DOWN FRONTS
KINGSTON, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs travelled to Kingston for a Saturday night matchup against the division rival Frontenacs. Coming off a big 4-3 win in Ottawa on Friday night the Bulldogs looked to sweep the weekend and end the Eastern portion of the road swing on back-to-back wins.
Matteo Drobac was tested early in this one, after stopping 35 shots on Friday, making a brilliant stretch cross-crease save off the stick of Matthew Soto just 1:05 into the game. Hamilton’s first quality opportunity came off the stick of Lawson Sherk, who cut into the offensive zone and ripped a shot just over the post coming within inches of opening the scoring. With 13:22 remaining in the period, Kingston’s Gage Heyes skated the puck into the offensive zone which ramped up the stick of the defending Gill-Shane and fooled Drobac to give the Fronts a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs line of Thomas, Panwar and Lardis continued their red hot run when Patrick Thomas received the puck from Panwar and threw it to the side of the net to the stick of Lardis who found a hole between the post and Ivan Zhigalov to tie the game earning his 16th of the season at 10:32. 59 seconds later, Cedricson Okitundu threw a pass over to Noah Roberts, off a faceoff win, who wristed it towards the net with Adrian Rebelo tipping the point shot by Zhigalov giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead on Rebelo’s 2nd of the season.
The Bulldogs received an early powerplay in the middle frame after Paul Hughes sent the puck flying over the glass trying to clear the defensive zone. Sahil Panwar and Marek Vanacker earned quality chances on the man advantage with Panwar being turned away by Zhigalov and Vanacker catching the side of the net. Later in the period, Ben Bujold chased the puck down and dropped it back to Adrian Rebelo looking for his second of the game but was gloved down by Zhigalov. At 11:26, Lawson Sherk exited the penalty box to a beautiful pass courtesy of Cole Brown springing him on a breakaway and chipping it over the blocker of the Kingston netminder to make it a 3-1 game on Sherk’s 4th of the season. In the dying seconds of the period, Artem Grushnikov laid a massive hit on Fronts captain Paul Ludwinski, causing teammate Quinton Burns to step in for some extracurricular activities which earned Burns an instigating penalty. During the first seconds of the penalty kill, Gage Heyes sent the puck over the glass for another delay of game call giving the Bulldogs a 5-on 3 powerplay for 1:44 to start the third period.
The Bulldogs threw everything they could to the net on the two-man advantage getting as close as the puck stopping dead on the goal line, but the game remained 3-1. Adrian Rebelo was sent to the box six minutes into the final frame for closing his hand on the puck giving Kingston the chance to inch closer to tying the game. The best chance on the Fronts powerplay went to Nick Lardis who picked up the puck and raced down the ice for a breakaway chance, but Zhigalov made a highlight reel glove save keeping his team in it. Matteo Drobac had his fair share of highlight reel saves in the third period, stretching his glove out to deny Poole, and an incredible split save in the dying seconds of the game, bringing his total saves up to 40. Nick Lardis added an empty net goal in the third for his 17th of the season and 2nd of the game, sealing the victory by a score of 4-1.
The Bulldogs continue their road trip next Thursday heading North for a 3-game road stretch against North Bay, then Sudbury and finishing off in Sault Ste. Marie.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Flex packages or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com
