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OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Brown Ignites Comeback in 4-3 Win Over Otters

February 28, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA. Tuesday night marked the only visit of the season for the Hamilton Bulldogs to the Erie Insurance Arena for the season to take on the Erie Otters.

The Bulldogs controlled the opening frame, coming out of the gates with a jump in their stride and quickly forcing the Otters to play on the back foot. Firing 10 shots to Nolan Lalonde's goal the Dogs had their chances but weren't able to nose ahead through 20 minutes.

The Otters turned the game on its head in the middle frame, despite being outshot and outdueled in the faceoff circle, it was Erie's offense that came to life. On the power-play just :55 seconds into the period, Pano Fimis found Malcolm Spence in the left circle who delivered a perfect pass to Carey Terrance who ripped a one-timer past Malboeuf to give the Otters a 1-0 lead. Erie fed off the momentum, doubling the lead at 7:15 with Fimis working the puck to the middle of the line for Nathan Sauder whose point shot deflected off Sam Alfano's body and bounced into the Bulldogs goal making it a 2-0 game. The Bulldogs were left further stunned at 9:20 as Fimis & Alfano sent defenseman Owain Johnston forward. Working off the right side, Johnston fanned on his initial shot but recovered the puck and tossed it to the Bulldogs goal, catching Tristan Malboeuf before he could reset, rolling through the five-hole, and giving the Otters a 3-0 lead before the halfway point of the period. Following the third goal, Tristan Malboeuf was called to the bench and Matteo Drobac took over between the pipes for the Bulldogs. Hamilton started to push back as the frame went along, outshooting Erie 17-13 and driven by the efforts of the line of Luca Testa, Masen Wray & Braeden O'Keefe, came close to getting on the board on several occasions only to have the frame come to a close trailing by the same 3-0 score.

The Bulldogs came out a different team in the third period. Just :46 seconds into the frame, Noah Nelson won a left-wing attacking zone faceoff forward where Marek Vanacker won a battle of strength for the puck, feeding it out front to Cole Brown who hammered home his 14th of the season to give the Bulldogs life. The visitors quickly followed on the momentum, :30 seconds later as Vanacker spread the puck to the right across the offensive zone where Nelson collected and fed the middle of the line for Jorian Donovan who sent a seeing eye shot through a Cole Brown screen to cut the deficit to 3-2 on Donovan's 12th of the season at 1:16. With Matteo Drobac keeping the door shut in the Hamilton end, the Bulldogs were able to battle back to even. At 7:34, Sahil Panwar fed the puck down the left boards to Patrick Thomas who walked out-front on his backhand and roofed a shot over Lalonde for his 16th of the season tying the game 3-3. With no more scoring in the third period, the game needed overtime with the Bulldogs on the power-play to open the extra session.

Nick Lardis had the best opportunity in the overtime session for the Bulldogs, with the puck in the slot, firing a shot that Lalonde had to shoulder down. At the other end, Matteo Drobac made his best save of the night splitting across the net to deny Pano Fimis what looked like a sure winning goal. With the game headed to a shootout, Matteo Drobac stopped both shooters he faced, while Cole Brown with a slick move to his backhand and Sahil Panwar with an overpowering shot both struck to give the Bulldogs the 4-3 shootout victory.

The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, March 2nd, travelling to Sadlon Arena in Barrie for a meeting with the Colts at 7:30.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Flex packages or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2023


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