Dogs Hold Final Playoff Spot

March 28, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


The Hamilton Bulldogs (31-27-7-5) head into the week two points ahead of the Syracuse Crunch (31-28-6-4) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Syracuse, playing in 69 games so far this season, has a game-in-hand over the Bulldogs who have already participated in 70 contests.

With four games this week, including three at Copps Coliseum, the Bulldogs will look to extend their lead for the last spot in the North Division playoff race. Hamilton is home to the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. when they welcome their 'Two Millionth Fan' to a game and give away $20,000 worth in prizing. The Bulldogs will then celebrate 'Newfoundland Night' at Copps Coliseum on Friday April 1st at 7:30 p.m. when they host the St. John's Maple Leafs for the 100th and final meeting between the two clubs. Then Hamilton will travel to Syracuse for a game on Saturday, April 2nd against the Crunch at 7:30 p.m. before returning home to round out the week against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday, April 3rd, at 4:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs posted two wins and a loss last week in three games, earning four of a possible six points. Hamilton lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1-0 on Wednesday, March 23rd, and rebounded with two convincing victories over the Edmonton Road Runners, including a 7-3 win on Friday, March 25th, and a 5-1 triumph on Saturday, March 26th.

Bulldogs fans can purchase tickets for all remaining home games at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (905) 527-7666 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Bulldogs fans can listen to Derek Wills call all the action on 820 CHAM 'The Legend' in Hamilton, the Team 990 in Montreal, or on-line at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

For the most up-to-date information and statistics on the Bulldogs please visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

NORTH DIVISION STANDINGS

Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS
X-Rochester 70 48 12 4 6 106
Manitoba 69 39 20 3 7 88
St. John's 70 40 26 1 3 84
HAMILTON 70 31 27 7 5 74
Syracuse 69 31 28 6 4 72
Cleveland 70 31 31 2 6 70
Edmonton 70 28 28 4 10 70


X - clinched playoff birth


WEEKLY REVIEW

Mar 23 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (L 1-0) - Despite allowing a season low 14 shots, including only three shots in the third period, the Bulldogs were edged 1-0 by the Penguins. The game's only goal came on the power play in the first period when Colby Armstrong was credited with his 18th marker of the season after a mad scramble in front of the Bulldogs goal. Goaltender Yann Danis appeared to have the puck smothered but somehow it ended up in the back of the net and stood as the game-winning goal.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - (no scoring) / WBS - Armstrong
Goaltending: HAM - Danis (L - 14 shots, 13 saves) / WBS - Sabourin (W - 31 shots, 31 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 31 / WBS 14
ATTN - 3,597

Mar 25 at Edmonton (W 7-3) - Captain Jason Ward had two goals and an assist, leading the Bulldogs over the Road Runners 7-3. Antti Miettinen also had a multi-point night, recording a goal and assisting on the game-winning goal scored by Steve Begin. The Bulldogs would match their season high offensive out-put in a game, scoring seven goals for the third time overall and second occasion against the Road Runners.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - Ferland, Miettinen, Ward (2), Begin, Higgins, Milroy / EDM - Smith, Healey, Stoll Goaltending: HAM - Danis (W - 24 shots, 21 saves) / EDM - Moss (L - 22 shots, 17 saves), Deslauriers (13 shots, 11 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 35 / EDM 24
ATTN - 8,617

Mar 26 at Edmonton (W 5-1) - Defenceman Ron Hainsey had two goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal, leading the Bulldogs to their sixth win in a row against the Road Runners. Steve Begin also had two goals and Trevor Daley had three assists in a supporting role on the night for Hamilton. The Bulldogs special teams play was exceptional, going 3-8 on the power play while allowing just one goal on nine attempts short-handed.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - Plekanec, Hainsey (2), Begin (2) / EDM - Stoll
Goaltending: HAM - Danis (W - 23 shots, 22 saves) / EDM - Moss (L - 24 shots, 19 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 24 / EDM 23
ATTN - 9,201


TEAM NOTES - LAST TEN GAMES

- The Bulldogs are 6-3-1-0 in their last ten games and 7-2-1-0 in their last ten divisional games.
- With ten points (4g, 6a), Captain Jason Ward leads the Bulldogs in scoring over the last ten games.
- Antti Miettinen leads the team with a +6 rating, while accumulating nine points (2g, 7a) in his last ten games.
- Ron Hainsey leads all Bulldogs defenceman over the last ten games with seven points (4g, 3a). All four goals have come on the power play.
- Starting in nine of the Bulldogs last ten games, goaltender Yann Danis has a record of 6-3-0 with a shutout, giving him 23 wins and four shutouts on the season.


BULLDOGS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Steve Begin - Registered three goals in two wins over the Edmonton Road Runners on the weekend. Begin had the game-winning goal in a 7-3 victory on Friday, March 25th, and two goals in a 5-1 win the following afternoon (Saturday, March 26th).


DOGS WITH BITE

Tomas Plekanec - With an assist on Antti Miettinen's goal in the first period of Friday night's game versus Edmonton, Plekanec became only the third Bulldog to record 100 career assists and tied Peter Sarno for second on the all-time Bulldogs scoring list. The next night, Plekanec had a goal in the 5-1 win over the Road Runners, giving him 166 career points (66g, 100a) in 221 games and sole possession of second place on the all-time Bulldogs scoring list. Sarno recorded 165 points (42g, 123a) in 230 games with the Bulldogs.

Jason Ward - Posted four points (2g, 2a) in two games against the Road Runners on the weekend. Ward had two goals and an assist as the game's first star on Friday, March 25th, and added an assist on Saturday, March 26th.

Ron Hainsey - Notched two goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal during the Bulldogs 5-1 win on Saturday, March 25th against the Road Runners.

Antti Miettinen - Tallied three points (2g, 1a) in two games versus the Road Runners this weekend. Miettinen had a goal and an assist on Friday, March 25th, and picked up another assist on Saturday, March 26th.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, March 30th - 7:00 pm vs. Manitoba Moose - The Hamilton Bulldogs Two Millionth Fan Night
- The Hamilton Bulldogs will welcome their Two Millionth Fan through the turnstiles of Copps Coliseum at this game.
- The Bulldogs will be giving away $20,000 worth of prizing to fans in attendance at the game, including trips to Montreal and Las Vegas.
- As part of the 2005 Calder Cup Tour, the coveted Calder Cup will be on display at Copps Coliseum for the game. The 2005 Calder Cup Tour offers fans the opportunity to view up close one of the oldest trophies in North American sports.
- Virginia Redden will be dropping the ceremonial face-off before the game. Virginia is an eight year-old Leukemia survivor and will be selling 'Chuck a Puck' on the concourse at the game to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Virginia plays forward for the Ancaster Avalanche in the Minor Novice Girls Hockey League. Fans are encouraged to support a great cause by purchasing a 'Chuck a Puck' throughout the game.

Friday, April 1st - 7:30 pm vs. St. John's Maple Leafs - Pizza Pizza Presents: Newfoundland Night
- The first 2,500 fans will receive an Andrei Kostitsyn Pizza Pizza Bandana.
- One lucky fan, the winner of the second intermission contest, will win pizza for an entire year courtesy of Pizza Pizza!
- Smirnoff Spin the Bottle Promotion: Fans 19 or older can win a special Smirnoff prize when the bottle lands on their section.
- Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy food, beverages, and sounds of Newfoundland as the St. John's Maple Leafs make their 100th and final appearance at Copps Coliseum.
- Upper bowl tickets are on sale for 14 dollars in support of CITY KIDZ. Tickets can be purchased at 17 different organizations throughout the Hamilton area.
- A select number of 'Blue Hometown Jerseys' will be available at a silent auction over the coarse of the game. Check the Bulldogs website later in the week for more details at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.


UPCOMING GAMES

Wed. March 30th, 7:00 p.m. - Manitoba Moose @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 3-2-0-0 against the Manitoba Moose (39-20-3-7) in five games this season.
- Bulldogs forward Chris Higgins leads the team in scoring against Manitoba with six points (4g, 2a) in four games.
- In five games versus the Moose this season, defenseman Dan Jancevski has a team high +5 rating.
- Moose forward Lee Goren leads Manitoba in scoring with six points (4g, 2a) in five games against the Bulldogs this season.

Fri. April 1st, 7:30 p.m. - St. John's Maple Leafs @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 4-4-2-1 versus the St. John's Maple Leafs (40-26-1-3) in 11 games this season.
- Bulldogs forwards Duncan Milroy (4g, 4a) and Tomas Plekanec (3g, 5a) lead the Bulldogs in scoring against the St. John's Maple Leafs with eight points each in 11 games this season.
- The Bulldogs have outscored the Maple Leafs 10-7 in the first period and 15-10 in the second period over 11 games this season.
- Maple Leafs forward David Ling leads St. John's with 11 points (2g, 9a) in 11 games against Hamilton this season.

Sat. April 2nd, 7:30 p.m. - Bulldogs @ Syracuse Crunch
- Hamilton is 2-1-0-1 versus the Syracuse Crunch (31-28-6-4) in four games this season.
- Forward Chris Higgins leads the Bulldogs with five points (3g, 2a) against Syracuse in four games this season.
- Bulldogs goaltender Yann Danis has played in all four of the games against Syracuse this season, compiling a 2-1-1 record with a 1.93 goals against average, a .946 save percentage and a shutout.
- Crunch forward Mark Hartigan leads Syracuse with three points (3g, 0a) in four games against the Bulldogs this season.

Sun. April 3rd, 4:00 p.m. - Grand Rapids Griffins @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 2-1-0-0 against the Grand Rapids Griffins (36-30-2-1) in three games this season.
- Bulldogs rookie Corey Locke leads the team with four points (1g, 3a) in three games against Grand Rapids this season.
- The Bulldogs have a power play percentage of 14.8 on the season. Against the Griffins, Hamilton has gone 6-25 with the man-advantage, good enough for a 24% success rate which is nearly 10% above their season average.
- Griffins' defenseman Niklas Kronwall leads Grand Rapids with three points (0g, 3a) in three games against Hamilton this season.


HAMILTON BULLDOGS MOLSON CUP THREE STARS - LEADERS
(1st place vote - 5pts, 2nd place vote - 3 pts, 3rd place vote - 1pt)

Player Points
1. Chris Higgins 57
2. Yann Danis 51
3. Tomas Plekanec 33
4. Corey Locke 24
5. Jason Ward 23
6. Dan Ellis 18
7. Steve Ott 9
7. Duncan Milroy 9
9. Antti Miettinen 8
9. James Sanford 8
9. Gavin Morgan 8
12. Andrei Kostitsyn 7
12. Ron Hainsey 7
14. Trevor Daley 6
15. Philippe Plante 5
15. Marc-Andre Thinel 5
17. Raitis Ivanans 3
18. Steve Begin 1
18. Michael Lambert 1



HOMETOWN HERO OF THE GAME-LEADERS
(Hardest Working Bulldogs Player on Home Ice)

Player Points
1. Steve Ott 70
2. Chris Higgins 50
2. Tomas Plekanec 50
4. Trevor Daley 40
5. Jason Ward 30
6. Dan Jancevski 20
6. Gavin Morgan 20
8. Andrei Kostitsyn 10
8. Dan Ellis 10
8. Yann Danis 10
8. Raitis Ivanans 10
8. James Sanford 10



American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2005


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