HAMILTON, ONTARIO – The upstart inaugural season Barons, who bumped the Abbotsford Heat from play-off contention, took the first place North Division Bulldogs, to six games. The 2006-2007 Calder Cup Champion Bulldogs were playing Game 6 on home ice with the final decision coming late in the third period. After a scoreless first and second period, all the action took place in a dramatic final period. The Barons scored first, when Alex Giroux took a scoring opportunity by shooting puck at 5:41, when the Bulldogs goaltender Drew MacIntyre was temporary out of the crease. This was Giroux’s second goal of the series, making him the only multiple goal scorer for the Barons. The visitor’s lead did not last very long, as the home team answered back a minute and two seconds later on an even strength goal by Nigel Dawes, his fourth goal of the post-season. Dawes scored on an Aaron Palushaj pass from behind the net, which set-up the off-balance Dawes as he scored from one knee. The Barons “Achilles heel” surfaced again with three minutes remaining in the game. The Bulldogs scored a power play goal that would be the game winner. Per usual, a Barons defenseman was sitting out two minutes for a minor penalty. Frederic St. Denis scored his first goal of the series, giving the home team a goal advantage. In an attempt to even the score, the Barons pulled their goaltender Martin Gerber, for an extra skater. The Bulldogs Dawes seized the opportunity and shot at an empty net for the “insurance goal” giving the home team a two goal advantage. The final score was additionally inflated by a fourth Hamilton goal. J.T. Wyman scored his first of the series, with twelve seconds remaining in the contest. For this series, Hamilton scored 6 power play goals on 35 opportunities, which averages to one power play goal per game. Comparatively, Oklahoma City scored one power play goal in 30 opportunities. The shots on goal for Game 6 were in favor of the visitors, 25 to 19. Hamilton standouts for this series have been forwards Dawes, Palushaj, and goaltender MacIntyre. Both Dawes and MacIntyre were recent additions to the Bulldogs roster. The recent acquisition of Dawes certainly infused the Bulldogs. He was obtained in late February when he was traded from the parent NHL team of Atlanta to Montreal. He has played for both the Thrashers and Canadiens this season, and is skating with his second AHL team of this season. Dawes scored five goals in this series, and was one of two multiple goal scorers; the other being Palushaj with two goals in previous games. MacIntyre finished the series with a very respectable .945 saves percentage. The Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, will face the winner of the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche Affiliate) vs. the Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks Affiliate) bracket for the North Division Semi-Finals. With the Manitoba Moose’s win Sunday afternoon, their series it tied at three games each. Game 7 is in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday. Contact Gail.Hamill@prohockeynews.com
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