Bulldogs Lose First Game In Regulation 6-4
October 26, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
Grand Rapids, MICH. - The Hamilton Bulldogs lost their first game in regulation after being defeated 6-4 by the Grand Rapids Griffins. Ville Leino and Mattias Ritola each had two goal nights to lead the Griffins over the Bulldogs in front of a crowd of 10,834 at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins scored four goals in the opening frame and Ritola recorded three points in the period. Garrett Stafford opened the scoring at 1:42 when he snuck behind the Bulldogs defence before one-timing a shot that beat Hamilton starting goaltender Marc Denis. Grand Rapids increased the lead to 2-0 after Justin Abdelkader notched a power-play marker at 3:19. While stationed in front of the net, Abdelkader tipped a Jonathan Ericsson shot from the point that squeaked by Denis. Ritola added the Griffins third goal of the period at 4:51 when he one-timed the puck past Denis after skating in on a two-on-one with Cory Emmerton. Hamilton head coach Don Lever decided to pull Marc Denis at 4:51 in favour of Cedrick Desjardins. Ritola netted his second goal of the game at 8:55. Emmerton sent a pass to Ritola to spring him on a breakaway, where Ritola beat Desjardins.
The Bulldogs got on the board at 2:19 of the middle stanza. After receiving a pass from Greg Stewart, Russell snapped a shot past Grand Rapids starting goaltender Jimmy Howard. Kyle Chipchura also earned an assist on the play. Hamilton cut the lead to 4-2 when Shawn Belle earned his first goal as a Bulldog at 5:56. Yanick Lehoux fed a pass to Belle, who ripped a shot that beat Howard for the 'Dogs second shorthanded goal in as many games.
Grand Rapids notched their fifth goal of the game at 14:33 of the middle frame. Leino grabbed a loose puck in front of the net before banging the puck past Desjardins. Darren Helm and Tom Galvin also earned assists on the goal.
Matt D'Agostini tallied two goals in the third period in an attempt to tie the game for Hamilton. D'Agostini increased his point streak to four games when he scored at 1:21 of the final frame. He rifled a blistering shot past the glove of Howard to make the game 5-3. The goal was unassisted. D'Agostini's second goal was scored at 15:48 when he beat Howard after putting in a rebound. Frederic St-Denis earned his first-career AHL point with an assist on the goal.
Leino sealed the win for Grand Rapids with 11 seconds remaining in the game when he scored an empty net goal.
The 'Dogs return to Copps Coliseum tomorrow for a 4:00 p.m. battle with the Quad City Flames. 2008-2009 Hamilton Bulldogs single-game and season tickets are now available! For more information, call 905-529-8500 or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Fans can listen to every Bulldogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, TALK 820 (820 CHAM) or at ww.hamiltonbulldogs.com.
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