HOUSTON, Texas – It took double overtime but Hamilton Bulldogs won their third consecutive Western Conference Finals game against the Houston Aeros by the score of 5-4 to send the series to a Game 7. If the Bulldogs can win on Tuesday, they can become the third team in the league’s 75 year history to come back after losing the first three of a seven game series.
Hamilton left wing Nigel Dawes scored two goals for the night that included the game-winner at 9:11 in the second overtime. He was assisted by Aaron Palushaj and Dustin Boyd. The two goals give Dawes 14 for the playoffs tying him with the Binghamton Senators Ryan Potulny.
The score could’ve easily went the other way as Drew MacIntyre faced 61 shots in the game for the win while Matt Hackett suffered his third straight loss saving 33 of the 28 he faced. The Aeros started the scoring in the first as center Chad Rau scored on Brendon Nash hooking penalty 3:34 into the game. The Bulldogs tied it up as Andreas Engqvist got it in on a J.T. Wyman helper.
Houston got their first and only lead in the game in the second as left winger Robbie Earl potted in the goal at 4:29. Hamilton then scored the next three goals going into the third in under four and a half minutes. Boyd scored on the power play at the 16:07 mark and Dawes finished the period with his first at 18:37. Wyman was sent to the box for a Hamilton penalty but his linemate Engqvist scored the short-handed goal unassisted to give the Bulldogs a two-goal lead.
That lead was short-lived in the third as defenseman Nate Prosser brought his team within one goal at 11:02. With less than two minutes left in the game, Jed Ortmeyer scored his fourth of the playoffs with helpers from Colton Gillies and Warren Peters who both had two assists in the night to send the game into the extra sessions where they lost twenty-nine minutes and eleven seconds later.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Western Conference Finals HOUSTON vs. HAMILTON series tied 3 – 3 Game 1 – Fri May 13 7:35 PM HOUSTON 2, Hamilton 1 Game 2 – Sun May 15 4:05 PM HOUSTON 3, Hamilton 2 Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:30 PM Houston 3, HAMILTON 2 Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:30 PM HAMILTON 8, Houston 1 Game 5 – Fri May 20 7:30 PM HAMILTON 4, Houston 2 Game 6 – Sun May 22 4:05 PM Hamilton 5, HOUSTON 4 OT2 Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM Hamilton at Houston Eastern Conference Finals CHARLOTTE vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton wins series 4 – 0 Game 1 – Thu May 12 7:05 PM Binghamton 7, CHARLOTTE 4 Game 2 – Fri May 13 7:05 PM Binghamton 3, CHARLOTTE 0 Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:05 PM BINGHAMTON 7, Charlotte 1 Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:05 PM BINGHAMTON 4, Charlotte 3 OT
Contact the writer at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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