HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The Bulldogs started off the first round of their playoff journey on home ice against the Peterborough Petes on Thursday night with playoff hockey returning to Hamilton for the first time in 1,121 days.
The first period was a back and forth clash right from the drop of the puck with the teams exchanging chances while Marco Costantini & Michael Simpson looked to turn the contest into a goalie’s duel. A physical tempo set in the first period saw the Bulldogs shorthanded three times in the opening period, killing off all three Peterborough man advantages successfully. One of the Bulldogs’ best opportunities to open the scoring came with 1-minute left of the first period, while on the penalty kill, Avery Hayes flew down the ice off a neutral zone steal but Michael Simpson wouldn’t be cracked on the occasion, sending the game to the locker room scoreless after 20 with Hamilton leading in shots by a 10-7 margin.
The Bulldogs appeared to settle into a playoff pace in the second frame, controlling the period from the outset and getting to the scoreboard. On the powerplay for the first time in the game the Bulldogs took full advantage with Arber Xhekaj converting a perfect pass from Gavin White going from middle of the blueline to the top of the right circle at 2:00. Pushing the lead further Ryan Winterton sent a nifty backhand pass through traffic sending Mason McTavish through the middle of the Petes zone to sniping a bullet of a shot past Simpson at 4:20 to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Brenden Anderson was next, squeezing one through Simpson’s 5 hole to at 7:03 on a goalmouth scramble to make the goal spread 3-0 with Giordano Biondi and White picking up the helpers. Peterborough got themselves back in the game at 16:36 as Brian Zanetti broke Costanini’s shutout bid, tipping down a J.R. Avon point shot closing the lead to 3-1. The Bulldogs answered right back as with a 4-on-4 expiring and Hamilton gaining a man advantage, Colton Kammerer fed Logan Morrison from the middle of the line to the left circle where the Bulldogs regular season scoring leader ripped an absolute rocket of a shot passed Simpson’s shoulder restoring the 3-goal lead at 18:47 with Hayes picking up the secondary helper to finish off the second period.
The Petes opened the third period with a goal scored by Donovan McCoy at 2:50 to cut the Bulldogs lead in half, off the right boards through a screen. After the Petes early goal the Bulldogs dug deep and looked to special teams to be the difference once again. While on a lengthy 5-on-3, Nathan Staios moved the puck from the left point into the left circle for Ryan Winterton, whistling a shot that deflected off the skate of Logan Morrison for his second of the game and Winterton’s third assist at 8:03 giving the Bulldogs a 5-2 advantage that they wouldn’t relinquish. Marco Costantini stopped 20 of 22 for his first career playoff victory as the Bulldogs took Game 1 on home ice by a 5-2 final.
The Hamilton Bulldogs are back home Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at the FirstOntario Centre hosting Game 2 against the Petes.
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