XHEKAJ STRIKES FOR A PAIR, BULLDOGS FORCE GAME 6 WITH 4-2 WIN
BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. With their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series returning home to the Brantford Civic Centre, the Brantford Bulldogs played to extend their season, entering Game 5 trailing the Ottawa 67’s 3-1.
For the fifth straight time in the series, the Bulldogs opened the scoring on the power-play at 9:21, as Patrick Thomas stationed at the top of the umbrella moved the puck to the left circle for Nick Lardis who had his first attempt which is blocked off by Collin MacKenzie. Florian Xhekaj pounced on the rebound and loosened the puck to send it back-side to Lardis where the Bulldogs sniper extended his team in scoring with his 4th goal of playoffs to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Luca Pinelli quickly looked to level the game, being sent away in behind the Bulldogs defense but Matteo Drobac knocked the puck aside where Jacob Maillet hopped on the rolling puck, only to have Drobac come up huge for the hosts keeping the Bulldogs in the lead. At 19:26, Florian Xhekaj with a dogged backcheck in neutral ice batted the puck off Frankie Marrelli’s stick rolling right to Patrick Thomas who, in the blink of an eye, sent Zakary Lavoie away on the right wing side rifling a drive past MacKenzie, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead they would take into the locker room after the opening frame.
Early into the middle frame, Brady Stonehouse earned an opportunity for 67’s while Ben Bujold responded the other way for the Bulldogs with Matteo Drobac & Collin MacKenzie standing tall in their respective ends. Jake O’Brien continued a tremendous opening act in the playoffs putting his body on the line to come up with a timely block off of a right point shot to close down a 67’s offensive zone set. Daniil Sobolev & Nick Lardis both created opportunities attempting to make the rookie’s effort pay off, but Collin MacKenzie turned both drives aside to keep the game still at 2-0. At 19:37, the 67’s are able to get one on the board with Jack Dever stealing the puck just inside the Brantford blueline and sending a slot drive that deflected off Matteo Drobac’s blocker and under the crossbar to score his 1st of playoffs cutting the Bulldogs to a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.
After a run of pressure to open the third period, Nick Lardis looked to spring Marek Vanacker but the puck caught too much speed on the fresh sheet of ice and Vanacker wasn’t able to handle until past the goal line with his play back to the front of the net being guided aside. Jake O’Brien made another key block on Frankie Marrelli’s drive denying the 67’s the chance to even up the game and once again igniting his teammates. The Bulldogs gain a 2-on-1 with Patrick Thomas having Adrian Rebelo with him but Thomas’ drive was turned aside by Collin MacKenzie. At 10:38, Owen Protz found Patrick Thomas on the right side of neutral ice. With a quick step back, Thomas put the puck in a perfect position for Florian Xhekaj flying down the left side of ice. Cutting middle, Xhekaj froze MacKenzie with a forehand fake before turning backhand and tucking the puck around his pad scoring his 2nd of the playoffs giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. However, at 12:03, the 67’s claw back into the Bulldogs lead off a Matthew Mayich point shot, deflecting off of Brady Stonehouse’s skate. Appearing to be kicked the play was reviewed but allowed to stand, making it 3-2. The 67’s looked to have tied the game 15:39 on a stuff play at the side of the Bulldogs net but Kimi Korbler had skated into the crease and, on review, interfered with Matteo Drobac cancelling out the goal. With their net empty the 67’s looked to press but a brave shot block by Florian Xhekaj in the slot led to the Bulldogs power forward firing the puck down the ice for his 2nd of the game & 3rd of the playoffs securing a 4-2 Game 5 victory, extending the series now at 3-2.
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow Sunday April 7, in Ottawa for Game 6 of their Eastern Quarterfinal series with puck drop at 7pm at the Arena at TD Place.
