OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Costantini Marvellous in Bulldogs 3-1 Victory

Published on March 18, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs continued their 8-game road trip on Friday night at Leon's Centre in Kingston, looking to rebound from having their 12 game win streak snapped on Tuesday night in Peterborough. The Leon's Centre is the lone building where the Bulldogs will play this season where they haven't taken a victory coming into Friday night, while Kingston needs the pair of points to keep the race for the East Division alive.

Kingston got the start they needed at 5:52 as Shane Wright stole the puck in the offensive zone to feed Martin Chromiak for his 28th of the season giving the Fronts an important lead. After Brenden Anderson & Arber Xhekaj each got into a scuffle nearing the midway point of the frame, the Bulldogs started to tilt the ice but were unable to beat Leevi Merilainen on 8 shots in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 deficit to the locker room after 20 minutes.

Through the 2021-22 season the Bulldogs best statistical period has been the second and that continued to be the case on Friday night. The Bulldogs pressing the play into the Kingston zone led to Lawson Sherk finding Gavin White at the left point, shifting the puck to the right for Nathan Staios who was able to corral a bobbling puck and fire a wrist shot that would beat Merilainen under the arm, rolling into the net to tie the game at 10:52. Next it was Marco Costantini's turn to stand up for his teammates, with Martin Chromiak off on a breakaway, Costantini would force Chromiak to make the first move, following the talented Slovak and making his biggest save of the game to that point. Feeding off the momentum of the Costantini save the Bulldogs gained possession in the left wing corner of the Fronts zone with Mason McTavish sliding it to the left point for an Artem Grushnikov laser tipped home by Ryan Winterton in front of the Kingston net for his 15th of the season at 18:28 giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 2-1, which held up to the second intermission.

The third period saw a defensive clinic from the Bulldogs and Marco Costantini, with the Frontenacs desperate to throw everything at the Hamilton goal, the Dogs' netminder turned aside all 14 he faced in the final frame. Nervous moments occurred despite the outstanding work, including a penalty kill with 3:13 left in the game that saw Mason McTavish put on a show, killing off 30 seconds almost single handedly.

With the Kingston net empty, Xhekaj got the puck onto Ryan Humphrey, finally finding Logan Morrison to hit the empty net at 19:58, giving the Bulldogs the 3-1 victory and a 9-point lead in the East Division, still holding a game in hand.

The Hamilton Bulldogs continue the weekend and the road trip with a pair of games in the nation's capital, meeting the Ottawa 67's on Saturday March 19th & Sunday March 20th at 2:00pm.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2021-22 season tickets, flex packs or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

Check out the Brantford Bulldogs Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2022


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