Monday Highlights: Defending champs close out 2018 with a win
HAMILTON 4, ERIE 3 – SO
Rookie netminder Zachary Roy made a career-high 52 saves and Matthew Strome and Brandon Saigeon scored shootout markers as the Hamilton Bulldogs claimed a 4-3 road win in Erie. Outshot 55-34, the Bulldogs found a way to prevail in a shootout as Arthur Kaliyev (25, 26) scored twice, joining Strome (14) on the scoresheet while Roy turned in a first star performance. Maxim Golod (9, 10) scored twice for the Otters before Joseph Mack (5) tied the score at three with 6:11 left in the third to force overtime, earning his team a single point. Daniel Murphy took the loss for Erie, making 31 saves as the Otters fell to 14-20-1-1. Hamilton snaps a five-game losing slide, flipping the calendar on a high note. The 2018 OHL Champions improve to 16-18-3-0 on the season.
GAME CENTRE
NIAGARA 6, OTTAWA 5
The Niagara IceDogs struck back against the Ottawa 67’s avenging a Friday night loss in the nation’s capital as Oliver Castleman (10, 11) scored twice in a 6-5 win on home ice. The 19-year-old from Gloucester, Ont. spotted the IceDogs a 2-0 lead early, one that would eventually stretch to 5-1 after two periods before the 67’s made a game of things in the final 20 minutes. Matthew Philip (9), Andrew Bruder (3), Akil Thomas (13) and Kirill Maksimov (24) also scored for the Dogs while Ben Jones, Jacob Paquette and Drew Hunter each notched two assists. IceDogs rookie Ethan Sims recorded an assists in his OHL debut. OHL goal-scoring leader Tye Felhaber (40, 41, 42) continued a 12-game point streak with his third hat-trick in the month of December but the 67’s would fall just short. Graeme Clarke (12) and Cameron Tolnai (2) also scored for Ottawa as the 67’s charged back with four third period goals before time ran out on them. Niagara improves to 22-8-5-0 with their eighth straight win at home. Ottawa falls to 27-7-3-1 but leads the East Division by a 14-point margin.
GAME CENTRE
NORTH BAY 5, SUDBURY 2
The North Bay Battalion enter the new year on a six-game winning streak, defeating the visiting Sudbury Wolves 5-2 on Monday. Brad Chenier (17, 18) and Justin Brazeau (36, 37) each scored twice before Matthew Struthers (18) sealed the deal late, helping the Troops go 3-for-7 on the power play. Christian Propp turned aside 40 shots, guiding the Battalion to victory despite being outshot 42-30. Nolan Hutcheson (12) and Anthony Tabak (1) scored for the Wolves while rookie netminder Mitchell Weeks made 25 saves in his first OHL start. The Battalion and Wolves have split their season series at two wins apiece thus far. North Bay improves to 17-18-1-1, good for fourth in the Central Division while Sudbury drops a fourth straight decision, falling to 21-12-1-1.
GAME CENTRE
MISSISSAUGA 9, WINDSOR 5
The Mississauga Steelheads and host Windsor Spitfires combined for 14 goals in a New Year’s Eve shootout, with the guests coming out on top thanks to four points from overage winger Alan Lyszczarczyk (17). The Trout scored a 9-5 victory in a back-and-forth game that saw both teams make goaltending changes. Mississauga led 4-2 after one period, 6-4 after the second and pulled away in the third with three unanswered. Lyszczarczyk had a goal and three assists while defenders Ryan Wells (1, 2) and Thomas Harley (5, 6) both scored twice. Cole Schwindt (7), James Hardie (6), Ryan McLeod (12) and Liam Ham (4) also scored for the Fish while goaltender Matthew Dunsmoor earned the win in his OHL debut. Mississauga outshot Windsor 34-23 as the Spitfires had goals from Sean Allen (1), Will Cuylle (13), Cole Purboo (16), Mathew MacDougall (8) and Tyler Angle (9). Mississauga gets back in the win column, improving to 17-15-3-1 while Windsor drops a third straight contest and an eighth in the past 10 games, falling to 15-19-2-1.
GAME CENTRE
LONDON 7, SARNIA 1
The London Knights settled a score with the Sarnia Sting, striking back after a 5-4 overtime loss on the road on Sunday to defeat their 402 rivals by a score of 7-1 at Budweiser Gardens. First star Josh Nelson (12) had another big performance with a goal and two assists while Connor McMichael (24, 25) and Nathan Dunkley (13, 14) both scored a pair. Joey Keane (6) and Cole Tymkin (15) also found the back of the net while Liam Foudy picked up two assists. The Knights outshot the Sting 46-28 and went 3-for-7 on the power play while holding Sarnia to an 0-for-10 mark on the man advantage. Joseph Raaymakers stopped 27 of 28, surrendering Sarnia’s lone goal off the stick of Nick Grima (2). The Knights earn a point in a sixth straight game, improving to 25-5-3-1. Sarnia falls to 18-16-2-2.
GAME CENTRE
BARRIE 5, OWEN SOUND 1
The Barrie Colts snapped a five-game slide, defeating the visiting Owen Sound Attack 5-1 thanks to a two-goal performance from 2019 NHL Draft prospect Ryan Suzuki (10, 11). With older brother Nick of the Attack off representing Canada at the World Juniors, Ryan lit the lamp twice while overage standout Lucas Chiodo (19) had a goal and two assists. Jacob Tortora (9) and Ben Hawerchuk (16) also touched the twine while St. Louis Blues prospect Tyler Tucker had two assists. Jet Greaves stopped 32 of 33 for the win while Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sean Durzi (3) accounted for Owen Sound’s lone marker, scoring shorthanded early in the second period. The Colts improve to 16-19-1-0 while Owen Sound suffers a third straight loss, falling to 19-14-1-2.
GAME CENTRE
