Dogs pull within three points of final playoff spot

Published on March 7, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


The Hamilton Bulldogs (26-24-6-5) head into the week just three points behind the Edmonton Road Runners for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. The Bulldogs have played in 61 games, one more than Edmonton (60 games).

Hamilton has four games this week, including three contests at Copps Coliseum and a road game in Grand Rapids. The Bulldogs host the Albany River Rats on Wednesday, March 9 (7:00 p.m.), followed by the Chicago Wolves on Friday, March 11 (7:30 p.m.). Hamilton then plays the Griffins on Saturday, March 12 (7:30 p.m.) at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids before returning home to round out the week on Sunday, March 13 (4:00 p.m.) against the Edmonton Road Runners.

With a crowd on Sunday of 6,013 against Edmonton, the Bulldogs attendance continues to rise and now stands at an average of 5,712 through 29 home games, good enough for eleventh overall in AHL attendance. Hamilton has won six of their last seven games at Copps Coliseum.

After posting two wins and a loss last week, the Bulldogs earned four points in three games and now have 63 points on the season. Hamilton started the week off with a 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Barons on Friday, March 4, before beating the Barons 5-4 the following night on Friday, March 5 and defeating the Road Runners 4-3 on Sunday, March 6.

Bulldogs fans can listen to Derek Wills call all the action this week live on AM 820 CHAM, the Team 990 in Montreal, or on-line at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

Tickets are available for all upcoming home games at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster at (905) 527-7666.

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

WEEKLY REVIEW

Mar 4 at Cleveland (L 2-1) - Despite goaltender Yann Danis stopping 35 of the 37 shots he faced, Hamilton lost 2-1 to the Barons on Friday night. Cleveland took a 2-0 lead going into the third period with a goal in each of the first two periods. Duncan Milroy pulled the Bulldogs as close as they would get with a goal late in the third period. Defenceman Jim Fahey had the game-winning goal, scoring the second of the two first period goals for Cleveland.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - Milroy / CLE - Gill, Fahey
Goaltending: HAM - Danis (L - 37 shots, 35 saves) / CLE - Schaefer (W - 28 shots, 27 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 28 / CLE 37
ATTN - 4,254

Mar 5 at Cleveland (W 5-4) - Hamilton battled from behind twice, including a two-goal deficit in the first period, to earn a 5-4 victory. The Barons tallied two goals in the opening frame from Craig Valette and Ryan Clowe. In the second period, Chris Higgins notched two goals to tie the game for the Bulldogs before the Barons regained the lead 3-2. Two more goals for the Bulldogs from Trevor Daley and Steve Begin would give Hamilton a 4-3 lead at the end of the second period. Mid-way through the third period, Ron Hainsey scored the eventual game-winner for the Bulldogs. With three seconds left in the game, Clowe scored his second goal of the night for Cleveland, making the score 5-4.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - Higgins (2), Daley, Begin, Hainsey / CLE - Valette, Clowe (2), Ehrhoff
Goaltending: HAM - Ellis (W - 35 shots, 31 saves) / CLE - Schaefer (L - 27 shots, 22 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 27 / ROC 35
ATTN - 7,469

Mar 6 vs. Edmonton (W 4-3) - For the second time in as many days, the Bulldogs overcame a two-goal deficit to earn a victory against a North Division rival. In the first period, Dan Jancevski opened the scoring for the Bulldogs on the power play. Then the Road Runners posted three goals in 3:20 from Mike Bishai, Rocky Thompson and Sean McAslan. With two goals in the second period from Steve Ott and Andrei Kostitsyn, Hamilton tied the score 3-3. Benjamin Carpentier scored in the third period to give the Bulldogs a lead that they would not relinquish. The goal was Carpentier's third marker and first game-winning goal of the season.
Game Notes:
Scoring: HAM - Jancevski, Ott, Kostitsyn, Carpentier / EDM - Bishai, Thompson, McAslan
Goaltending: HAM - Danis (W - 30 shots, 27 saves) / EDM - Moss (L - 31 shots, 27 saves)
Shots on Goal: HAM 31 / EDM 30
ATTN - 6,013


TEAM NOTES

- The Bulldogs are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games.
- Hamilton is 7-1-0-0 in its last eight divisional games.
- Tomas Plekanec had his six-game point streak snapped after being held pointless yesterday against Edmonton in a 4-3 win. Plekanec had eight points (2g, 6a) during his six-game point streak.
- Hamilton is 17-0-0-0 this season when they score four or more goals in a game.
- The Bulldogs power-play has been very effective recently, going 5-14 last week and 11-36 in their last seven games.
- Hamilton is seventh in the league with 10 short-handed goals.


BULLDOGS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tomas Plekanec - Posted four points (0g, 4a) in three games last week. Plekanec earned an assist on the Bulldogs only goal against Cleveland in the 2-1 loss on Friday (Mar 4) and tallied three assists in the 5-4 victory over the Barons the following night (Mar 5). Plekanec has 12 points (5g, 7a) in his last ten games.


DOGS WITH BITE

Ron Hainsey - Recorded four points (1g, 3a) in the last two games. Hainsey had a season high three points (1g, 2a), including the game-winning goal in the victory over Cleveland on Saturday (Mar 5) and picked up an assist in the win yesterday (Mar 6) over Edmonton.

Chris Higgins - Notched three points (2g, 1a) in two games last week. Higgins tied a season high with three points (2g, 1a) in the win over Cleveland (Mar 5) and did not suit up yesterday against Edmonton (Mar 6) due to injury.

Steve Ott - Tallied two points (1g, 1a) in the Bulldogs 4-3 win over Edmonton on Sunday.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, March 9th - 7:00 p.m. vs. Albany River Rats - CCM Ticket Redemption Night
- Bulldog fans can bring any unused tickets from games earlier in the season and redeem them for admission to the game.
- "Get Well Bruiser" card will be available for fans to sign.
- Bruiser Paws can be purchased for a loonie in support of the Canadian Blood Services.

Friday, March 11th - 7:30 p.m. vs. Chicago Wolves - Fortinos' Night
- Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate is wishing everyone a "Happy Easter" by giving away chocolate bunnies at the door.
- Smirnoff Spin the Bottle Promotion: Fans 19 years of age or older can win a special Smirnoff prize when the bottle lands on their section.

Sunday, March 13th - 4:00 p.m. vs. Edmonton Road Runners - Canadian Coaches Night
- During the second intermission Canadian Coaches will be giving away a three-day trip for two to Ottawa.
- Log-on to www.hamiltonbulldogs.com to become a Bulldog's insider.

Monday, March 14th - 7:00 p.m. Hamilton Bulldogs Youth Fund Skills Competition
- The first ever Hamilton Bulldogs Youth Fund Skills Competition will take place at the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre.
- The Hamilton Bulldogs players will be split into two teams and will compete for bragging rights in six separate events including: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Accuracy Shooting, Breakaway Relay, Puck Control Relay, and Pass & Score.
- Tickets for the Skills Competition are $10 for General Admission. A portion of the proceeds from this event will support the Hamilton Bulldogs Youth Fund. Tickets can be purchased at the HCCC, at the Hamilton Bulldogs office by calling (905) 529-8500, or at Hamilton Bulldogs home games at Customer service behind section 116.


UPCOMING GAMES

Wed. March 9th, 7:00 p.m. - Albany River Rats @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 0-1-0-0 versus the Albany River Rats (19-30-6-5) this season. Albany is in last place in the East Division.
- The River Rats won the only previous meeting between the two clubs by a score of 6-3 on Feb.19th at the Pepsi Arena. Despite the loss, Hamilton out-shot Albany 49-27.
- In six games versus teams from the East Division, Tomas Plekanec leads the Bulldogs with 6 points (3g, 3a).

Fri. March 11th, 7:30 p.m. - Chicago Wolves @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 1-1-1-0 versus the Chicago Wolves (35-19-5-2) in three games this season.
- Gavin Morgan leads the Bulldogs with five points (3g, 2a) in three games against Chicago this season.
- Bulldogs goaltender Dan Ellis has a win and a loss against the Wolves this season with a 2.40 G.A.A., and a .917 save percentage in two games.
- Chicago netminder Kari Lehtonen has played in all three games against the Bulldogs, posting a 2.32 G.A.A., and a .928 save percentage.

Sat. March 12th, 7:30 p.m. - Bulldogs @ Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hamilton is 2-0-0-0 versus the Grand Rapids Griffins (29-26-2-1) in two games this season.
- The Bulldogs have scored ten goals in two games versus Grand Rapids while giving up only two.
- Corey Locke leads the Bulldogs with four points (1g, 3a) in two games against the Griffins this season.
- Bulldogs goaltender Yann Danis has two wins, a 1.00 G.A.A., a .964 save percentage and a shutout in two games against Grand Rapids this season.

Sun. March 13th, 4:00 p.m. - Edmonton Road Runners @ Bulldogs
- Hamilton is 5-2-1-1 versus the Edmonton Road Runners (27-21-4-8) in nine games this season.
- Steve Ott leads the Bulldogs with seven points (4g, 3a) in eight games versus Edmonton this season.
- Hamilton rookie Andrei Kostitsyn has scored 12 goals this season, including five against the Road Runners in eight games.
- Bulldogs leading scorer Tomas Plekanec has scored four goals, including three game-winning goals in nine games against Edmonton 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 46
2. Yann Danis 45
3. Tomas Plekanec 33
4. Corey Locke 24
5. Dan Ellis 18
6. Jason Ward 15
7. Steve Ott 9
7. Duncan Milroy 9
9. James Sanford 8
10. Trevor Daley 6
10. Antti Miettinen 6
10. Andrei Kostitsyn 6
13. Philippe Plante 5
13. Gavin Morgan 5
13. Marc-Andre Thinel 5
16. Raitis Ivanans 3
17. Michael Lambert 1
17. Ron Hainsey 1


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

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

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2005


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