HAMILTON, Ont. – The Hamilton Bulldogs are now making this an interesting series as they got by the Houston Aeros again to stave off elimination by winning Friday night by the score of 4-2. The Aeros still lead the series three games to two as the teams now have a multi-flight travel day on Saturday to head to Houston for Game 6 on Sunday.
In the first, the Hamilton fourth line started the scoring as left wing Paul Zanette fired a shot towards the net that deflected off a Houston defender and past Matt Hackett to give the Bulldogs the first lead of the game. Aaron Palushaj made it 2-0 on the power play as he picked up a big rebound, settled the puck at the top of the slot and fired it in for the score. The Bulldogs outshot the Aeros 12-5 in the first.
But then Hamilton got a little sloppy in the second as the play got a little more physical. Houston turned it around outshooting their opponent 17-9 but could only muster up the only goal scored in the second frame. Former Bulldog, Jean-Michel Daoust stripped the puck from a Hamilton player and ripped off a quick shot that got high and in on Drew MacIntyre to bring the Aeros within one at the 5:04 mark.
Hamilton got a big one back that eventually turned in to the game-winner as the Ryans, Russell and White took the puck in on a 2-on-1 rush with Russell getting the goal short-handed at 8:22. Just as the penalty expired, Houston right wing Jed Ortmeyer scored his third of the playoffs with helpers from Warren Peters and Robbie Earl. The Bulldogs then scored the empty-netter with 1:10 left in the game as left wing Andrew Conboy scored his first goal in 19 games to seal the victory.
Hackett who is now 11-5 in the playoffs suffered the loss stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced as MacIntyre’s record increases to 10-8 as he stopped 31 of 33 for the win. CONFERENCE FINALS
Western Conference Finals HOUSTON vs. HAMILTON Houston leads series 3 – 2 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 at Houston Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM * Hamilton at Houston
Eastern Conference Finals CHARLOTTE vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton wins series 4 – 0 Advances to Calder Cup Finals 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 (*if necessary
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