Hamilton defends home ice with 3-1 win

HAMILTON, ONTARIO – The Bulldogs used an efficient defense and strong goaltending to edge the Texas Stars were 3-1 on Sunday in Game 2 of the AHL Western Conference Finals. Hamilton forward Brock Trotter set up two goals, including the game-winning goal by defenseman Alex Henry at 4:52 of the second period.
 
Bulldogs’ goalie Curtis Sanford stopped 22 Texas shots for his fourth straight win.
 
Texas goalie Matt Climie (1-2) made 27 saves in his second straight defeat.
 
Warren Peters scored the only Texas goal of the night. Game 3 is at 7:30 pm at Cedar Park Center on Wednesday night.
 
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a power-play goal just 28 seconds into the middle stanza.   Brock Trotter sent a cross-ice pass to the right-wing circle for a Ryan Russell one-timer. Russell’s shot zipped by Climie for the 1-0 Hamilton lead and his fifth goal of the postseason.
 
“We had two blue line turnovers,” Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said after the game. “Our guys have to use the glass a little better to clear the zone.”  
 
Hamilton made it 2-0 at 4:52 just as a Texas power play ended. Trotter blocked a pass at center and worked the puck deep and dropped a pass for Alex Henry, who scored his second goal of the playoffs, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
 
“We know we have to be a little more physical out there against their guys,” Gulutzan commented.   “There are only ten teams playing professional hockey right now and you can’t make mistakes against the really good teams.”  
 
Texas trimmed the lead to one prior to the end of the period.   Warren Peters picked up the puck behind the Hamilton net and played the puck off the back of the Bulldogs’ Sanford for his third goal of the playoffs at 17:40. Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and Dan Jancevski each picked up an assist on the goal.
 
“Our power play was a stickler for me,” Gulutzan said in the post game interview.   “We were better tonight but we need to get them (Hamilton) out of their game too.”
 
In the third period, the Bulldogs regained their two-goal lead at 10:59. Grant Stevenson set up Mike Glumac for a one-timer from the top of the left-wing circle. Glumac’s ninth goal of the postseason finished off a two-on-one rush for Hamilton.
 
Asked his reaction to the game, Warren Peters were circumspect, saying “We had our chances at the end of the second and early in the third but their goalie (Sanford) made the saves.   We didn’t have many quality scoring chances though.”
 
The series shifts to Cedar Park, TX for Games 3 through 5. Game 3 will be on Wednesday, May 19^th at 7:30 PM at Cedar Park Center, followed by Game 4 on Friday, May 21^st at 7:30 pm. If needed, Game 5 will be on Saturday, May 22^nd at 7:00 pm at Cedar Park Center. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 would be played back in Hamilton, starting with Game 6 on Monday, May 24^th at 7:30 PM (ET). Game 7 is slated for Wednesday, May 26^th at 7:30 PM (ET)
 
Western Conference Finals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 – Texas 2 at Hamilton 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Texas 1 at Hamilton 3 (HAM leads series 2-0)
Game 3 – Wed., May 19 – Hamilton at Texas, 7:30 pm CT
Game 4 – Fri., May 21 – Hamilton at Texas, 7:30 pm CT
*Game 5 – Sat., May 22 – Hamilton at Texas, 7:00 pm CT
*Game 6 – Mon., May 24 – Texas at Hamilton, 6:30 pm CT
*Game 7 – Wed., May 26 – Texas at Hamilton, 6:30 pm CT
*if necessary
  Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com