Game Preview: Niagara vs Hamilton

It’s the battle of the Dogs tonight as Niagara goes head-to-head against Hamilton at the Meridian Centre for 7:00pm puck drop. The two teams have evenly split four games this season, and with two games still to be played against one another you can be sure each team wants to take the season series lead into their final bout of the year on March 13. 

The IceDogs will be hoping to carry over their good fortune from the last time they faced Hamilton, which was just eight days ago. Jordan Maletta fired one past the Bulldogs goaltender in overtime to score his career-best 29th goal. The goal was Maletta’s second of the game, as he kick started the scoring just over a minute after the zamboni cleared the ice to start the game.

Shutting Out the Shootout 

If fans are looking forward to a shootout in this contest, they might be disappointed. In 109 combined games this season, there have only been three games that have gone to a shootout, all of which belong to the the IceDogs. Hamilton has not seen any shootout action this year, though there is a first time for everything, and with the last game between these teams going into overtime, anything can happen.

Players to Watch

Hamilton defenceman Benjamin Gleason has been impressive since joining the Bulldogs earlier on in the season. The 17 year old has 31 points in 51 games this season and is just a couple games removed from a career-high three point night. In mid-January the American was able to put together a six game point streak in which he recorded eight points. Cousin of former Toronto Maple Leaf, Time Gleason, Benjamin has proven he has a knack for putting up points, and in only his second season in the OHL he will be a player to watch for years to come.

Since returning from Finland for the World Junior Championship, Brendan Perlini has been in great form, recording six goals and six assists in 17 games. Perlini is only 13 goals away from the 100 mark for his OHL career, but with only 15 games remaining in the regular season, and the fact that he will most likely be in Arizona next year with the Coyotes, it will be a fun challenge for the 6’3 left winger heading down the stretch.

Teams Stats