HAMILTON, ONTARIO – The Hamilton Bulldogs used a late game Stars penalty for too many men on the ice to score the game winner early in the OT session to edge the Texas Stars and grab a 1-0 series lead on Friday night.
Forward Brock Trotter scored a power-play goal 14 seconds into overtime, lifting the Bulldogs over the Stars in the series opener. Trotter finished with two goals in the game.
“It’s always disappointing to lose in overtime,” Stars’ goalie Matt Clime said after the game. “We took a bad penalty at the end of the game.”
Stars rookie Jamie Benn scored two goals, as Texas dropped its first Game 1 in this year’s playoffs.
“We could have started (the game) better,” Benn said. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. It’s losing that quick on the PK.”
Hamilton center David Desharnais scored and added two assists in the first win of the series for Hamilton. Hamilton goalie Curtis Sanford stopped 18 shots. Texas goalie Matt Climie made 35 saves in the overtime loss.
Hamilton scored the first goal of the night just 5:22 into the opening period. The Bulldogs capitalized on an early power play, as David Desharnais picked up a rebound and snapped the puck past Matt Climie for his seventh goal of the playoffs.
The Stars responded with a power-play goal at 11:01. Landon Wilson sent a cross-ice pass to Jamie Benn in the Hamilton zone. Benn fired a wrist shot, beating Curtis Sanford tying the game at 1.
Hamilton regained the lead at 15:23. Hamilton’s Aaron Palushaj set up Desharnais in the high-slot for a shot that was tipped. Brock Trotter was given credit for his sixth goal of the playoffs, pushing the Bulldogs back in front, 2-1.
Late in the second period, Texas scored its second power-play goal of the night. Maxime Fortunus worked the puck from the right point to the left point for Dan Jancevski who sent the puck cross-ice for Benn. The Texas rookie blasted a one-timer past Sanford for his second goal of the night and a 2-2 score at 18:15.
Just 14 seconds into the extra frame, the Bulldogs capitalized with their second power-play goal of the night. Desharnais played the puck to the crease and Trotter slid the rebound into the Texas net for his seventh goal of the playoffs for the 3-2 win.
“We have to make some adjustments and come back here Sunday,” Benn added after the game.
“Two goals don’t mean anything for me,” Benn said of his effort in the losing cause.
Game two is at 1:00 pm (CDT) in Hamilton at Copps Coliseum.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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