By Dale Lamontagne, Hamilton Bulldogs Correspondent, Bulldogs Hockey Report
Brandon Taylor / Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club
HAMILTON, ON — In the second game of the back-to-back between the Hamilton Bulldogs and Grand Rapids Griffins, the ‘Dogs skated away with a nice 5-2 victory to sweep the weekend set against the Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate.
It didn’t take long to see the first goal of the game.
The Hamilton Bulldogs struck first with Nick Sorkin cleaning up the rebound in front of Jared Coreau, where he backhanded the puck by his glove hand. That was Sorkin’s fourth goal of the season.
The Bulldogs went up 2-0 fourteen minutes into the opening frame, thanks to Davis Drewiske.
Lots of credit goes to Maxime Macenauer, who fed Drewiske a nice pass, where he roofed it top corner with a wicked backhand shot. It was a helluva shot that you rarely see Drewiske do.
Jack Nevins and Chris Burton dropped the gloves right off the faceoff, but the officials would intervene before the two could scrap it out. So both players went off for minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the game was played 4-on-4. Last week, Jarred Tinordi was knocked out flat after participating in a staged fight with a Utica Comets player and officials were quick to make sure the fight did not happen.
With only a handful of seconds left in the 4-on-4, the Griffins cut the Bulldogs lead in half, with Mitch Callahan beating Mike Condon on the blocker side.
Once Nevins and Burton got out of the box, they wasted no time beginning a fight. Both players landed a bunch of punches to the face and head area, but Nevins got the upper hand as he took Burton down to the ice.
The Griffins started the second period on a good note as they were able to tie the game on the breakaway.
Forward Landon Ferraro, son of former NHL’er Ray, scored on the breakaway after receiving the puck at center ice as a Bulldogs player turned it over.
But moments after the Griffins tied the game, the Bulldogs got their lead back after Charles Hudon and Jacob De La Rose had a nice 2-on-1 opportunity. Hudon dished to De La Rose the puck who beat Coreau on the blocker side.
A little after the mid-way mark in the second, Nathan Paetsch was called for slashing, but he was not happy about it as he broke his stick over his net, then slammed the Griffins bench door before heading down the tunnel. Paetsch was given a slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct and 10 minute game misconduct.
Fast forward with 1:35 left, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-2 on the power-play.
Forward Hudon blasted the shot from the point and Coreau made the save, but there would be a huge rebound with Daniel Carr tucking the puck away to extend the ‘Dogs lead.
Carr’s goal would send the ‘Dogs into the second intermission up by two goals.
The Bulldogsmade it a 5-2 game just a couple of minutes into the third period, thanks to T.J. Hensick who buried a wrap-around-goal.
The ‘Dogs hung on to their 5-2 lead for the remainder of the period, defeating the Griffins for the second night in a row.
Next Game
The Bulldogs are back in action next Friday as they host William Nylander and the Toronto Marlies. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets at hamiltonbulldogs.com/tickets.
(Photo by Brandon Taylor / Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club)
(Photo by Brandon Taylor / Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club)
By Dale Lamontagne, Hamilton Bulldogs Correspondent, Bulldogs Hockey Report – Twitter @Dale_Bulldogs
HAMILTON, ON — The Hamilton Bulldogs resumed their season long seven game homestand tonight at FirstOntario Centre against the Grand Rapids Griffins, in front of 3,619 fans. Tonight’s game marked the first of the back-to-back between the two clubs. The Bulldogs took game one and by doing so, they snapped a three-game losing streak.
The first period saw the Bulldogs go up 1-0, thanks to Gabriel Dumont, who scored an absolutely beautiful goal. The Bulldogs captain scored from just outside the crease, where he pulled the puck around, going between the legs to tuck it by Jared Coreau on the power-play. It was Dumont’s eighth goal of the season.
This was the only goal of the opening 20 minutes with the Bulldogs looking much better than they have in their past three games.
In the middle frame, there would be no scoring, thanks to both goaltenders who made some real good saves. However, despite the lack of goals, there was a ton of action, with back-and-forth chances at both ends of the ice. It was surely a better game for the ‘Dogs, who have been missing this sort of offensive effort recently.
Moving on to the third period, the Griffins got right back in the game with Mark Zengerle sniping the puck right over the shoulder of Mike Condon. It would be the forward’s fourth goal of the season.
Late in the third period, the Bulldogs’ captain scored on the breakaway to give the ‘Dogs a 2-1 lead over the Griffins. It was Dumont’s second of the game and ninth of the season.
This was one of Dumont’s best games of the season. He showed it by scoring two goals and making an obvious offensive impact each and every shift.
So with the Bulldogs up 2-1, the Griffins pulled their goaltender adding an extra attacker in an effort to tie the game. But they would have no luck and the Bulldogs held on to secure the 2-1 win, snapping their three game losing skid.
Next Game
Both the Bulldogs and Griffins are back at it tomorrow with puck drop at 7:00 p.m.
By Dale Lamontagne, Hamilton Bulldogs Correspondent, Bulldogs Hockey Report
HAMILTON, ON — The Hamilton Bulldogs will continue their season long seven game homestand tonight at the FirstOntario Centre as they play host to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.
I took in the morning skate at FOC. Here are some notes to get you set for the game…
The Bulldogs enter tonight’s contest with a record of 16-17-6 and currently sit 11th in the Western Conference. The Griffins have a record of 19-13-4 and sit 7th with a 19-13-3-1 record.
The big news out of Hamilton this morning is the return of defenceman Jarred Tinordi, who will slide back into the lineup tonight. Tinordi was injured in a fight against the Utica Comets last Friday and was out for three games due to facial and head injuries.
Joey MacDonald, who was originally supposed to start in goal for the Bulldogs this evening, is now up with the Montreal Canadiens with Carey Price injured day-to-day. So you can expect Mike Condon to get the start in goal.
I will have all your live game updates over at Twitter (@Dale_Bulldogs) and a post-game blog following the match here at Bulldogs Hockey Report. Stay tuned.
‘DOGS CONTINUE SEASON-LONG HOMESTAND WITH THREE GAMES THIS WEEK
Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly Release
(Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
HAMILTON, ON. — The Hamilton Bulldogs will look to rebound from a 1-2-0-0 record this past weekend as the ‘Dogs continue their season-long, seven-game homestand with three more home games this week.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Bulldogs will host the Milwaukee Admirals (American Hockey League affiliate of the Nashville Predators) at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m. in the second and final game between the two teams this season, as well as Milwaukee’s only visit to Hamilton in 2014-15. The Ads won the first meeting of the season 4-1 on their home ice on Jan. 3.
On Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17, the ‘Dogs will be visited by the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings) in the first two of four matches between the clubs in 2014-15 and the only two at FirstOntario Centre. Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s game is a 7 p.m. puck drop.
THIS WEEK’S GAME SCHEDULE / BROADCASTS (All times Eastern)
Wednesday, Jan. 14 vs. Milwaukee Admirals, FirstOntario Centre, 7:30 p.m. – AHL Live, AM900 CHML
Friday, Jan. 16 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, FirstOntario Centre, 7:30 p.m. – Cable 14, AHL Live, AM900 CHML
Saturday, Jan. 17 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, FirstOntario Centre, 7 p.m. – AHL Live, AM900 CHML
(All statistics include games through Sunday, Jan. 11)
BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE
Record: 16-16-6-0, 38 points … Home: 8-9-3-0, 19 points … Road: 8-7-3-0, 19 points … Standings: T-3rd North Division, T-10th Western Conference … Last 10 games: 3-6-1-0 … Longest winning streak: 2 (Nov. 14 – Nov. 16, Nov. 21 – Nov. 23, Nov. 29 – Dec. 2) … Longest losing streak: 3 (Oct. 25 – Oct. 29; Nov. 7 – Nov. 13) … Leading scorers: F Charles Hudon (38 GP 11-23-34), F T.J. Hensick (38 GP 9-21-30), F Gabriel Dumont (35 GP 7-13-20) … Goaltenders: Mike Condon (20 GP 9-8-3, 2.23 GAA, .930 Save %, 1 SO), Joey MacDonald (16 GP 6-7-3, 2.96 GAA, .902 Save %, 0 SO) … Power play – Home: 10-for-83, 12.0 per cent, 24th AHL … Road: 8-for-67, 11.9 per cent, 23rd AHL … Overall: 18-for-150, 12.0 per cent, 29th AHL … Penalty killing – Home: 66-for-77, 85.7 per cent, T-7th AHL … Road: 62-for-71, 87.3 per cent, 8th AHL … Overall: 128-for-148, 86.5 per cent, 7th AHL … Goals for per game: 2.55, 22nd AHL … Goals against per game: 2.68, T-13th AHL
OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (Affiliation: Nashville Predators) – Head Coach: Dean Evason … Record: 19-12-2-3, 43 points … Home: 10-7-1-1, 22 points … Road: 9-5-1-2, 21 points … Standings: 2nd Midwest Division, 6th Western Conference … Leading scorer: F Brendan Leipsic (34 GP 4-21-25) … Leading goaltender: Magnus Hellberg (16 GP 8-4-2, 1.77 GAA, .933 Save %, 2 SO) … Power play: 22-for-142, 15.5 per cent, 20th AHL … Penalty killing: 119-for-143, 83.2 per cent, 16th AHL … Goals for per game: 2.81, 11th AHL … Goals against per game: 2.42, 7th AHL … Last 10 games: 6-2-2-0 … All-time series: 15-16-1-1-2 … Last season: 1-1-0-0 … This season: 0-1-0-0 … First-round NHL picks: F Austin Watson (Nashville Predators, 2010) … Ontario-born players: F Michael Liambas (Woodbridge), F Richard Clune (Toronto)
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS (Affiliation: Detroit Red Wings) – Head Coach: Jeff Blashill … Record: 19-12-3-1, 42 points … Home: 9-6-2-1, 21 points … Road: 10-6-1-0, 21 points … Standings: 3rd Midwest Division, 7th Western Conference … Leading scorer: F Teemu Pulkkinen (33 GP 20-19-39) … Leading goaltender: Jared Coreau (9 GP 6-2-1, 1.83 GAA, .938 Save %, 1 SO) … Power play: 25-for-140, 17.9 per cent, 9th AHL … Penalty killing: 107-for-127, 84.3 per cent, T-13th AHL … Goals for per game: 3.14, T-5th AHL … Goals against per game: 2.54, 8th AHL … Last 10 games: 7-2-0-1 … All-time series: 37-30-1-3-5 … Last season: 1-1-0-2 … This season: 0-0-0-0 … First-round NHL picks: F Anthony Mantha (Detroit, 2013) … Ontario-born players: F Colin Campbell (Toronto), F Andreas Athanasiou (London), D Ryan Sproul (Mississauga), G Jared Coreau (Perth)
TRANSACTIONS
Jan. 10 – F Sven Andrighetto assigned by Montreal Canadiens to Hamilton Bulldogs
Jan. 8 – F Christian Thomas recalled by Montreal Canadiens from Hamilton Bulldogs
Jan. 8 – F Stefan Fournier assigned by Montreal Canadiens to Wheeling Nailers
Jan. 6 – D Bryan Allen assigned by Montreal Canadiens to Hamilton Bulldogs
Jan. 6 – F Jacob de la Rose assigned by Montreal Canadiens to Hamilton Bulldogs from IIHF World Junior Championship
INJURY REPORT
F Connor Crisp – Upper and lower body (Day-to-day)
D Magnus Nygren – Upper body (Day-to-day)
F Eric Tangradi – Upper body (Four weeks)
D Jarred Tinordi – Upper body (Day-to-day)
PRACTICE / MORNING SKATE SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Wednesday, Jan. 14: Morning skate – 10 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Thursday, Jan. 15: Practice – 11 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Friday, Jan. 16: Morning skate – 10 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Saturday, Jan. 17: Morning skate – 10 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Sunday, Jan. 18: Off day
Monday, Jan. 19: Practice – 10 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Tuesday, Jan. 20: Practice – 10 a.m. – FirstOntario Centre
Note: Practices and morning skates are closed to the public, unless otherwise specified.
WEEK-IN-REVIEW (Jan. 5-11)
Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 – UTICA 0 @ HAMILTON 3
FirstOntario Centre, Hamilton, Ont.
Utica Goals: N/A
Hamilton Goals: Nick Sorkin*, Maxime Macenauer, Jacob de la Rose
Goaltending: Utica: Joacim Eriksson (2 GA, 30 SV) / Hamilton: Mike Condon (0 GA, 27 SV)
Power Play: Utica: 0-for-4 / Hamilton: 0-for-3
* – Game-winning goal
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 – LAKE ERIE 2 @ HAMILTON 1
FirstOntario Centre, Hamilton, Ont.
Lake Erie Goals: Joey Hishon, Trevor Cheek*
Hamilton Goals: Charles Hudon
Goaltending: Lake Erie: Calvin Pickard (1 GA, 23 SV) / Hamilton: Mike Condon (2 GA, 27 SV)
Power Play: Lake Erie: 0-for-3 / Hamilton: 0-for-5
* – Game-winning goal
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 – OKLAHOMA CITY 3 @ HAMILTON 0
FirstOntario Centre, Hamilton, Ont.
Oklahoma City Goals: Jason Williams*, Iiro Pakarinen, Andrew Miller
Hamilton Goals: N/A
Goaltending: Oklahoma City: Richard Bachman (0 GA, 26 SV) / Hamilton: Joey MacDonald (2 GA, 28 SV)
Power Play: Oklahoma City: 0-for-2 / Hamilton: 0-for-2
* – Game-winning goal
MOLSON CUP – THREE STARS LEADERS
(1st Star – 5 pts, 2nd Star – 3 pts, 3rd Star – 1 pt)
Player
Points
1. Mike Condon
30
2. Sven Andrighetto
20
3. Charles Hudon
19
4. Daniel Carr
15
T5. T.J. Hensick
13
T5. Gabriel Dumont
13
7. Christian Thomas
8
T8. Mac Bennett
5
T8. Jake Dowell
5
T8. Joey MacDonald
5
T11. Michael Bournival
4
T11. Darren Dietz
4
T11. Nick Sorkin
4
T14. Eric Tangradi
3
T14. Greg Pateryn
3
16. Nathan Beaulieu
2
17. Maxime Macenauer
1
THE DAN LAWRIE INSURANCE PREMIUM PLAYER OF THE GAME
(Hardest-working Hamilton Bulldogs player)
Player
Selections
1. Charles Hudon
8
2. Gabriel Dumont
4
T3. Eric Tangradi
2
T3. Mike Condon
2
T3. Davis Drewiske
2
T3. Greg Pateryn
2
T3. Christian Thomas
2
T3. Mac Bennett
2
T3. Drayson Bowman
2
T10. Joey MacDonald
1
T10. Jack Nevins
1
T10. Darren Dietz
1
T10. Sven Andrighetto
1
T10. Maxime Macenauer
1
T10. Magnus Nygren
1
T10. Nick Sorkin
1
T10. Michael Bournival
1
T10. Jarred Tinordi
1
T10. Dustin Tokarski
1
T10. T.J. Hensick
1
T10. Jacob de la Rose
1
TICKET INFORMATION
Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
HAMILTON, ON – A night of undisciplined penalties cost the Hamilton Bulldogs a chance at a perfect opening weekend at home, but the resilient squad managed to salvage a point in a game where they had to kill nine minor penalties. After Akim Aliu tied the game at three with ten seconds remaining in regulation time, all five Bulldog shootout participants were stopped, while Gustav Nyquist would beat Robert Mayer to earn the defending Calder Cup champions a 4-3 victory.
When Andrighetto speaks of this game to his grandchildren, he’ll recall his first professional goal and game-tying assist, and not his bad penalty on a backcheck. (PHOTO: Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)
For the second night in a row, the Bulldogs started the game strong, as it was again defenseman Greg Pateryn that opened the game’s scoring. On a powerplay, Patrick Holland took a Griffins’ defenseman hard to the net, screening netminder Petr Mrazek, and helping Pateryn’s blast off a Magnus Nygren feed to find the back of the net.
In the second, Hamilton looked to add to its lead thanks to a strong shift from the experienced trio of Mike Blunden, Gabriel Dumont, and Louis Leblanc. First an offensive zone cycle led to a goal post being struck, and then in the same shift, a Leblanc breakaway and subsequent rebound were somehow kept out by Mrazek. Unfortunately, the play led to two Bulldog forwards lying on the ice behind the goal line, and the Griffins converted rushing the puck the other way. A lucky bounce ended up on the stick of star Gustav Nyquist who made no mistake in beating Robert Mayer.
The Bulldogs didn’t relent, regaining their lead just 18 seconds later, when two Patrick Holland shots were stopped, but Sven Andrighetto was waiting on the doorstep to tap in a rebound for his first professional goal. From there, however, the ‘Dogs indiscipline was the key storyline, as the team took a string of six consecutive penalties, with a strong penalty killing effort finally relenting on the last opportunity late in the second. Nyquist again would this time find Calle Jarnkrok all alone in the slot to one-time a shot past a fallen Mayer, who had made numerous difficult saves to keep the ‘Dogs ahead up till that point.
The parade to the penalty box continued early in the third, and the Griffins would make the Bulldogs pay. With Martin St. Pierre in the box for the second time, Jeff Hoggan collected a rebound of a shot that bounced off two posts and deposited it into the goal behind an outstretched Mayer.
It looked like the game may be done when a miscommunication between Drew Schiestel and Nathan McIver created a too many men call with under 8 minutes to go, but a successful penalty kill allowed the home team to pull Mayer for an extra skater in the game’s final minute. After a Greg Pateryn shot was stopped by Mrazek’s blocker, an Andrighetto shot bounced off a defender and on to the stick of Akim Aliu, whose whack at the puck went up over the Red Wings’ prospect to even the score.
Hamilton – the better team at 5-on-5 (which was rare) for most of the night – failed to carry the momentum of the tying goal into overtime, and the extra frame solved nothing. A shootout was necessary, where the bad ice forced players to keep things relatively simple, and in the end, only a Gustav Nyquist shot would beat either netminder, slipping between Mayer’s legs for the game winner.
The shootout loss drops the ‘Dogs to 1-0-1 to start the season, with the team taking to the road for the first time next weekend for trips to Lake Erie and Toronto.
Hamilton Bulldog lines:
Sven Andrighetto – Martin St. Pierre – Patrick Holland
Mike Blunden – Gabriel Dumont – Louis Leblanc
Erik Nystrom – Ben Duffy – Akim Aliu
Justin Courtnall – Joonas Nattinen – Nick Tarnasky
Joel Chouinard – Greg Pateryn
Drew Schiestel – Darren Dietz
Magnus Nygren – Nathan McIver
Robert Mayer
Dustin Tokarski
Three Stars:
1. Gustav Nyquist
2. Robert Mayer
3. Jeff Hoggan
Hardest Working Bulldog: Greg Pateryn
Honourable mentions to Mike Blunden, Louis Leblanc, Sven Andrighetto
HAMILTON, ON – With fewer than 20 games to play in their season and the team still sitting in the Western Conference’s basement, every point is critical for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Moral victories are no longer good enough, and thus the squad could not take solace in hanging around for most of the game against a strong Grand Rapids Griffins Squad. In the end, a 4-1 defeat meant two points the home squad could not add to the bank on Sunday afternoon, and the margin for error becomes hopelessly smaller.
As has been typical of the team all season, the Bulldogs seemed unprepared to start tonight’s game, dominated in all zones through the first 20 minutes. An early penalty proved costly as – despite a number of outstanding stops by starter Robert Mayer – a rebound ended up in the slot and on the stick of a pinching Chad Billins who finished it off to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Coach Lefebvre was livid with his team’s offensive zone penalties, two taken by Louis Leblanc (PHOTO: Graham Hughes, THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES)
Hamilton would take three more minor penalties in the first, a period in which they were outshot 16-6, but thanks to solid goaltending and a big 5-on-3 kill, managed to escape the period down just 1. For the second night in a row, the team’s best chances came off the stick of Patrick Holland – the ‘Dogs’ most creative forward offensively over the past few weeks – but he was unable to convert on either a Joey Tenute feed or his own individual rush.
The second period was a little more even, with few real scoring chances for either side. Steve Quailer had two whacks at a powerplay chance in front of Grand Rapids’s goaltender Thomas McCollum but could not be the former first round selection. The only other time Hamilton was menacing was on a Mike Blunden wraparound opportunity, but again the Griffins’ netminder was up to the task.
It seemed early in the third that the ‘Dogs might be able to escape with points by playing just a single period of decent hockey, as an early powerplay gave Nathan Beaulieu the room he needed to step up to the top of the face-off circle and fire a wrist shot that went off Mike Blunden‘s stick before finding the back of the net. Blunden was rewarded with a goal after regularly being one of the team’s top sparkplugs along with Holland and Joey Tenute.
But the momentum the team built was nullified when Philippe Lefebvre took a careless offensive zone hooking penalty – the team’s second such infraction of the game – and Riley Sheahean restored the Grand Rapids lead with the man advantage.
Blunden was at the centre of a bit of controversy near the third’s midway mark as he laid out Louis-Marc Aubry with a huge hit in the offensive zone. Aubry was slow to get up, and a melee ensued, but a powerplay which could have put the game out of reach proved fruitless for the Griffins.
“I thought I hit the guy clean, but I don’t really know, I’d have to look at it again. Definitely can’t take penalties in the offensive zone, but we gotta find a way to kill them,” summarized Blunden on a tougher night for the typically strong Hamilton penalty kill.
No matter how good their penalty kill, a team can’t take a seemingly endless string of penalties without it coming back to haunt them, and Louis Leblanc‘s second offensive zone infraction of the evening did just that, with Gustav Nyquist completing a nice passing play from a tough angle. Seconds later, Grand Rapids captain Jeff Hoggan skated into the zone and fired a hard slapshot on goal which also eluded Mayer, putting this one out of reach.
Understandably, coach Sylvain Lefebvre was short-tempered following a frustrating loss. “Stupid penalty was the reason we lost the game tonight. Robert Mayer gave us a chance to win, and we took stupid penalties after stupid penalties. You can’t win games if you end up in the box all night. Not against that team.”
The ‘Dogs will regroup by heading out on the road to visit St. John’s next weekend, and then Syracuse and Binghamton the following weekend. If any hope remains to salvage the season, they’ll need a perfect road trip before returning to Copps Coliseum heading into the season’s final month.
