Bulldogs Play Two Teams In Three Games This Week

February 28, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) will battle against two different opponents in three games this week. The 'Dogs begin the week hosting the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators) on Wednesday, March 2nd for a 7:00 p.m. game at Copps Coliseum. The Bulldogs will then welcome the Toronto Marlies to Copps Coliseum for the first of back-to-back games against their archrival. The Marlies will play in Hamilton on Saturday, March 5th for a 4:00 p.m. game before both teams head to Toronto for a 1:00 p.m. game at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, March 6th. Sunday's game can be seen live on CBC.

The 'Dogs first game of the week was on Friday, February 25th when they traveled to Montreal to host the Adirondack Phantoms at Bell Centre. The 'Dogs were victorious in the game, winning 4-1. New Bulldog Nigel Dawes opened the game's scoring with a goal in the first period. Danny Syvret tied the game in the second but J.T. Wyman restored Hamilton's lead soon after. Aaron Palushaj added two goals in the third to seal the win. Following the game, the 'Dogs traveled to Syracuse for a game against the Crunch on Saturday, February 26th. The Bulldogs notched their second straight win as they earned a 3-2 victory over Syracuse. Brendon Nash and Kyle Klubertanz scored for the 'Dogs in the first period while Kyle Palmieri scored for Syracuse. Dawes added his second goal for the 'Dogs in as many games in the second period in what proved to be the game-winner as the Crunch could only score one more goal in the game. Hamilton closed out the week with a game at Copps Coliseum against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday, February 27th. The 'Dogs had their two-game winning streak snapped as they dropped a 5-2 game to the Griffins. Logan Pyett scored a hat trick for the Griffins while Ilari Filppula and Jamie Tardif each recorded three-assist nights. Dawes scored Hamilton's first goal which extended his goal-scoring streak to seven games.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW:

Friday, February 25th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 4 vs. ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS 1

Bell Centre - Montreal, PQ

Hamilton Goals: Nigel Dawes, J.T. Wyman*, Aaron Palushaj (2)

Adirondack Goals: Danny Syvret

Goaltending: Hamilton: Curtis Sanford (W- 21 shots, 20 saves) / Adirondack: Johan Backlund (L- 28 shots, 25 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 2-5 / Adirondack 0-2

Attendance: 14,809

* - Game Winning Goal

Saturday, February 26th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3 at SYRACUSE CRUNCH 2

Onondaga War Memorial at Oncenter - Syracuse, NY

Hamilton Goals: Brendon Nash, Kyle Klubertanz, Nigel Dawes*

Syracuse Goals: Kyle Palmieri, Patrick Maroon

Goaltending: Hamilton: Curtis Sanford (6 shots, 5 saves), Robert Mayer (W - 30 shots, 29 saves) / Syracuse: Timo Pielmeier (L - 35 shots, 32 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 1-5 / Syracuse 1-7

Attendance: 5,589

*- Game Winning Goal

Sunday, February 27th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 vs. GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Nigel Dawes, Aaron Palushaj

Grand Rapids Goals: Logan Pyett (3), Chris Minard*, Tomas Tatar

Goaltending: Hamilton: Robert Mayer (L - 32 shots, 28 saves) / Grand Rapids: Jordan Pearce (W - 32 shots, 30 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 1-6 / Grand Rapids 1-2

Attendance: 3,661

*- Game Winning Goal

BULLDOGS NOTES:

- The Bulldogs' power play sits fifth in the standings capitalizing on 20.9% of their chances with the man advantage.

- G Curtis Sanford sits second in the AHL for goals-against-average with 1.93 and is tied for first in the league in save percentage with .930SV%. Sanford is also tied in second for the league lead in shutouts with five.

- LW Nigel Dawes was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens on February 24th along with Brent Sopel in exchange for Ben Maxwell and a fourth round draft pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Dawes scored a goal in each of his first three games with Hamilton, extending his goal-scoring streak to seven games. He ranks second in the AHL in goals with 30 on the season.

- The Bulldogs were victorious in their second game at Bell Centre this season. The 'Dogs beat the Adirondack Phantoms 4-1 on February 25th in front of 14,809 fans.

- The Montreal Canadiens acquired G Drew MacIntyre from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for D Brett Festerling on February 28th.

- Trade Deadline Day (February 28th) in the NHL saw four former Bulldogs traded: Shawn Belle (From Edmonton to Colorado), Chris Higgins (from Florida to Vancouver), Maxim Lapierre (from Anaheim to Vancouver) and Brad Winchester (From St. Louis to Anaheim).

UPCOMING GAMES:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2nd - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS 7:00 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM - HAMILTON, ON

- This is the second of two meetings between the clubs this season

- In their first matchup this season, the Admirals defeated the Bulldogs 3-2 on January 9th

- Hamilton`s all-time record versus Milwaukee is 12-11-1-1-2

- Linus Klasen leads Milwaukee in scoring with 45 points (22G, 33A)

- There are three Ontario natives currently listed on the Admirals roster: RW Brock McBride (Cornwall), LW Kelsey Wilson (Sault Ste. Marie), and LW Mike McLean (Oshawa)

SATURDAY, MARCH 5th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. TORONTO MARLIES

4:00 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM- HAMILTON, ON

SUNDAY, MARCH 6th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS at TORONTO MARLIES

1:00 PM EST - RICOH COLISEUM- TORONTO, ON

- This will be the ninth and tenth of ten meetings between the two clubs this season.

- The last time the two teams met was on February 18th when the Bulldogs beat the Marlies 4-3 in Toronto

- The 'Dogs hold a 5-1-0-2 record against the Marlies this season

- Hamilton's all-time record against the Marlies is 33-23-0-5-7

- Mike Zigomanis currently leads Toronto in scoring with 40 points (10G, 30A)

- There are 11 Ontario natives currently listed on the Marlies roster: C Brayden Irwin (Toronto), C Justin Hodgman (Brampton), C Nazem Kadri (London), C John Mitchell (Oakville), LW Ryan Hamilton (Oshawa), C Mike Zigomanis (North York), D Simon Gysbers (Richmond Hill), RW Luca Caputi (Toronto), LW Jeff Cowan (Scarborough), G Andrew Engelage (Oshawa) and Richard Greenop (Bowmanville).

ALUMNI WATCH:

There are over 40 former Bulldogs currently on NHL rosters. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-'Dogs from this past week:

- Los Angeles C Jarret Stoll tallied an assist in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks (Feb. 23) and recorded the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche (Feb. 26)

- Montreal LW Andrei Kostitsyn is currently on a three-game point streak after recording the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks (Feb. 22), an assist in a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs (Feb. 24) and an assist and the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes (Feb. 26)

- Montreal LW Max Pacioretty tallied a goal in a 5-4 loss to the Maple Leafs (Feb. 24)

- Montreal C Tomas Plekanec earned an assist in a 5-4 loss to Toronto (Feb. 24) and recorded a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes (Feb. 26)

- Montreal D P.K. Subban is on a three-game assist streak after he earned an assist in a 3-2 win over Vancouver (Feb. 22), one in a 5-4 loss to Toronto (Feb. 24), and one in a 4-3 win over Carolina (4-3 W)

- Toronto C Mikhail Grabovski earned an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 26) and an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Atlanta Thrashers (Feb. 27)

- Boston RW Michael Ryder recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers (Feb. 27)

- Dallas C Mike Ribeiro scored a goal in a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings (Feb. 24) and earned an assist in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators (Feb. 26)

TUNE IN TO Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network:

Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 'TODAY'S COUNTRY AM 820 CHAM'. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'AHL Live' or '820 CHAM' icon on the Bulldogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 30 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills calls the play-by-play of all 80 regular season games, while Al Craig provides the colour commentary for all home games and select road games.

GET YOUR TICKETS!:

Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, flex tickets, min pack tickets, group tickets and tickets are now on sale! Individual game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office (in-person sales only), all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.ca or call 905-527-7666. For information on season tickets, flex tickets, mini pack tickets and group tickets visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 ext. 179.

GET YOUR BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE AT THE " DAWG HOUSE" : Fans can purchase Bulldogs merchandise during all home games at the " Dawg House" store located behind section 114 on the concourse level at Copps Coliseum.

In the store, fans can find hats, t-shirts, jackets, replica jerseys, foam fingers, foam 'Bone Heads', and other select novelty items for sale.



American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2011


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