Battalion Battle Past Bulldogs
January 23, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release
HAMILTON, Ontario - Cam Dineen scored with 1:37 left in overtime to give the North Bay Battalion (23-16-2- 3) a 4-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs (16-23-4-0).
With two big points on the line for Hamilton, the Bulldogs got off to a physical, emotional start. The intensity paid off at 3:58 as Jack Hidi took a feed in the slot from Jesse Saban and snapped home a one timer to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Ben Gleason would get the secondary assist on Hidi's first goal in a Bulldogs uniform.
The 'Dogs would head into the intermission with the lead but at 7:30 of the second period North Bay would get the equalizer as a three way passing play between Brett McKenzie, Daniil Vertiy and Brady Lyle resulted in McKenzie putting home his twenty-first goal of the year to tie the game 1-1.
Some big saves from Bulldogs starting goaltender Connor Hicks would allow Hamilton to restore their lead at 15:42 when Niki Petti cut to the front of the net and took an innocent looking backhand that squeezed past Battalion starter Jake Smith to give Petti his fourteenth goal of the year. Matt Luff and Matthew Strome would get the assists.
The Bulldogs seemed poised to head into the second intermission with the lead before McKenzie one timed a pass from Steve Harland past Hicks for his second of the game. Mike Baird would also get an assist on the goal at 19:25.
The teams would enter the third knotted at two but it wouldn't take long for the Battalion to jump ahead. Former Bulldog Maurizio Colella would take a cross ice pass from Mike Amadio and wrist it home for his fifth goal of the year and second as a Battalion. Mathew Santos would register an assist on the goal at 1:15.
Playing from behind for the first time all game Hamilton would manage to tie this one up on the power-play.
With Vertiy sitting in the box for slashing, Michael Cramarossa managed to sneak a loose puck past Smith for his twelfth of the season. Trent Fox and Gleason would notch assists on the game tying goal at 10:43.
Several chances on both ends would be denied by the goaltenders and the game would head to overtime where Dineen would be the hero. Receiving a pass from Santos in full stride, Dineen would head straight to the net and deke out Hicks to send North Bay home with the extra point. Lyle would get a secondary assist on the game winner at 3:23 of overtime.
Smith would make 23 saves in the win for North Bay, while Hicks would make 30 saves in the loss.
Despite the loss Bulldogs defenceman Ben Gleason was happy with the team's effort. "We battled our way back into this one. It was nice to go into overtime and get a point. We have to keep playing as a team and working hard. We need to keep pushing and hopefully come away with a win tomorrow."
The Bulldogs are back in action tonight when they take on the Mississauga Steelheads at the FirstOntario Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:00pm.
3 Stars
1-Cam Dineen (GWG)
2-Brett McKenzie (2G)
3-Niki Petti (1G)
Dan Lawrie Premium Player of the Game (Hardest Working Player): Matt Luff
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets call 1-866-DOGS- TIX (364-7849) or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season games live on Hamilton's AM 900 CHML, on 900chml.com or watch all home games and over 30 away games live in HD on Cable 14 or online or demand at cable14now.com.
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