Bulldogs take North Division lead

December 27, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ON - The Hamilton Bulldogs came from behind to defeat the Manitoba Moose 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday night at Copps Coliseum. With the win, Hamilton (21-10-1-1) moves into first place in the North Division standings for the first time since April 10th, 2004, passing the Rochester Americans (21-8-1-0) who had previously held a 15 point lead on the 'Dogs on November 17th. The Bulldogs have now recorded at least one point in eight straight games, going 7-0-1-0 in that span.

With two goals in the first period, the Moose jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Nathan Smith was at the tail end of a tic-tac-toe passing play at the 4:32 mark when he one-timed a shot from the side of the crease on the power play for his eighth goal of the season. Alexandre Bolduc then posted his first goal of the season at 11:48, after an errant pass from behind the net deflected out to Bolduc in the slot.

The Bulldogs responded in the second period with two late goals to tie the game at 2-2. Duncan Milroy deflected Mathieu Biron's point shot on the power play at the 15:45 mark to cut the deficit to 2-1. Mikhail Grabovski also earned an assist on Milroy's team-leading 14th goal of the season. Jonathan Ferland tied the game 2-2, by redirecting Ryan O'Byrne's long-lead pass past Moose netminder Wade Flaherty. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak started the play to O'Byrne, whose pass, which came from behind centre-ice, was just within Ferland's reach. Ferland's blueline tip then took an unusual carom forward and somehow found the back of the net with just 1:24 left in the middle stanza.

After a scoreless third period and overtime, the game went to a shootout. Neither the Moose nor the Bulldogs could score on their first-three shootout attempts. After Halak stopped Manitoba's fourth attempt, Grabovski deked Manitoba goaltender Wade Flaherty to the forehand before pulling the puck to his backhand and depositing the puck to the bottom right corner of the net. Halak then went a perfect 5-for-5 in the shootout by stopping Manitoba's final shooter Mike Keane and sealing the win for Hamilton.

The Bulldogs return to action this Friday, December 29th at 7:30 p.m. when the Toronto Marlies visit Copps Coliseum. Tickets for all 'Dogs home games (except home game #32) are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666. Fans can listen to the game live on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend," beginning with the Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show at 7:10 p.m. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website.



American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2006


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