'Dogs lose to Pens in shootout

March 28, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Hamilton Bulldogs lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The loss extends the Bulldogs' franchise-long losing streak to 11 games and sets a franchise record winless streak of 11 games. The previous franchise-long winless streak was 10 games from October 8th-to-31st during the 1999-2000 season. The 'Dogs record now drops to 31-31-3-6 through 71 games on the campaign.

Just 11 seconds into the first period, Matt D'Agostini broke into the Penguins zone, pulled the puck to his backhand and tucked home his 19th goal of the season to open the scoring for the Bulldogs. Brock Trotter and Conrad Martin earned assists on the scoring play that set another franchise record for the fastest goal at the start of a game. Former 'Dog Gavin Morgan scored 12 seconds into a game back on October 30th, 2004 against the Crunch in Syracuse.

Hamilton took a 2-0 lead at 12:17 of the opening frame when Mathieu Carle snapped a shot past netminder John Curry on the power play. Marvin Degon registered the lone helper on Carle's sixth tally of the campaign.

Jonathan Ferland extended the Bulldogs lead to three goals, notching his 12th marker of the season at 6:19 of the second period. Daniel Corso fed Ferland who backhanded a shot under the glove hand of Curry and into the back of the Penguins net.

At 7:50 of the middle stanza, former 'Dogs enforcer Dennis Bonvie got the Pens on the scoreboard with his second goal of the season. Connor James and Nathan Smith earned assists on the 3-1 goal.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled within a goal at 3-2 courtesy of Kurtis McLean's 22nd tally of the campaign at 1:11 of the third period. Tim Brent picked up an assist on the play.

Marvin Degon restored Hamilton's two-goal lead with his ninth marker of the season at 9:20 of the third frame. Duncan Milroy, earning an assist on the goal, registered his 176th career point (74-102-176) and tied Tomas Plekanec (71-105-176) for third place on the Bulldogs all-time scoring list.

With two goals in a span of 1:43 in the third stanza, the Penguins tied the game 4-4. Ryan Stone (12:10) and Chris Minard (13:53) were the goal scorers for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, sending the game to overtime.

After the extra frame solved nothing, the game was forced to a shootout. Matt D'Agostini, Corey Locke and Daniel Corso scored in the shootout for the Bulldogs but it wasn't enough as Tim Brent, who scored twice including the shootout winner, Kurtis McLean and Chris Minard tallied to lift the Penguins to victory.

Defenceman Jean-Philippe Cote did not play in the game due to injury. Ferland is now the only Bulldog to have dressed in all 71 of Hamilton's games this season.

Hamilton returns to action tomorrow night (Saturday, March 29th) at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to the Giant Center in Hershey to take on the Bears. Fans can listen to every Bulldogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 20 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time.

The Bulldogs next home game is on Saturday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. when they host the Lake Erie Monsters at Copps Coliseum. Tickets for all 'Dogs home games 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. For more information or to purchase season tickets call 905-529-8500, e-mail tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.



American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2008


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