HAMILTON, ONTARIO. On the road to the Outdoor Showcase, the Bulldogs began a back-to-back with a ride up the 400 to Barrie on Thursday night, looking to extend their lead in the Eastern Conference and pick up their first win of the season at Sadlon Arena.
The first period began heavily tilted towards the Bulldogs, heading to the power-play just seconds into the game and they made it count. Gavin White dished the puck off the top to the left circle for Ryan Winterton’s shot, the rebound collected by Avery Hayes for his 32nd of the season at just 0:56. Despite a heavy shots edge for Hamilton, the Colts responded at 6:56 with Nathan Allensen on a left point shot that eluded Costantini to tie the game. Marvellous Marco stood up late in the first period with Beau Jelsma on a partial breakaway, stoning the Colts forward with a brilliant shoulder stop, keeping the score knotted at 1-1 through 20 minutes.
The goaltenders completely took over the second period with Mack Guzda holding the door in the Barrie end while Costantini made a pair of tremendous stops to keep the game on even terms. Early in the second period, Beau Jelsma turned the Bulldogs net hard looking for the wrap-around finish only to have Costantini fly from post to post to deny the chance. In the latter half of the period, Costantini made an initial stop on a Cardwell net drive, the puck laid dead for Declan McDonnell who snapped off a quick wrister that Costantini would again deny in spectacular fashion. Through 40 minutes, there was no difference from 20, with the teams tied 1-1 headed to the 3rd.
Looking to stop the Bulldogs from their 10th straight victory, the Colts nosed themselves ahead near the midway point of the final frame as Declan McDonnell jumped on a rolling puck in the slot at 9:04 to give the Colts the 2-1 lead. The Bulldogs just wouldn’t quit however, as Logan Morrison was denied on a net front opportunity but Arber Xhekaj was able to hold the puck in at the right point, passing on to Morrison for a shot that beat Guzda from the top of the right circle tying the game at 10:57 on Morrison’s 26th of the season. Just :24 seconds later, Lawson Sherk rotated the puck back to the right point for Gavin White, setting Artem Grushnikov for a bullet of a shot that hit top corner from the left point for Grushnikov’s 4th of the season, giving the Bulldogs a stunning 3-2 lead at 11:21. With under 4 minutes to go, Brandt Clarke hit Jan Mysak from the blindside with a heavy hit to the head, sending the Bulldogs forward down the tunnel and Clarke out of the game with a 5-minute head checking major. The Bulldogs finished off their 10th straight win for their teammate with Marco Costantini stopping 18 of 20 and moving the Bulldogs 4 points ahead of Mississauga in the Eastern Conference.
The Hamilton Bulldogs wrap up their two-game road trip on Friday night from the Paramount Fine Centre in Mississauga visiting the Steelheads with a 7:00pm puck drop.