Dogs Win Three of Four Games This Past Week

April 4, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


After posting a record of 3-1-0-0 in four games last week, the Hamilton Bulldogs (34-28-7-5) extended their lead to five points over the Syracuse Crunch (32-29-7-4) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Syracuse holds two games-in-hand over the Bulldogs, playing in 72 games so far this season, while Hamilton has already participated in 74 contests.

With four games this week, including two at Copps Coliseum and two at the MTS Centre in Manitoba, the Bulldogs will look to extend their lead for the last spot in the North Division playoff race. Hamilton is home to the defending Calder Cup Champion Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday, April 6th at

7:00 p.m. and Friday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs will then travel to Manitoba to take on the Moose on Saturday, April 9th at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 10th at 3:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs earned six of a possible eight points in four games last week. Hamilton beat the Manitoba Moose 2-1 on Wednesday, March 30th and lost 2-1 to the St. John's Maple Leafs on Friday, April 1st at Copps Coliseum. They travelled to Syracuse on Saturday, April 2nd and defeated the Crunch 3-0 before returning home yesterday (April 3rd) for a 4-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins.

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.

WEEKLY REVIEW

Mar 30 vs. Manitoba (W 2-1) - Yann Danis turned aside 25 of the 26 shots he faced, including 14 saves in the third period for his 24th win of the season. Steve Begin and Raitis Ivanans scored for the Bulldogs to lift Hamilton over the Moose by a score of 2-1.

Game Notes:

Scoring: HAM - Begin, Ivanans / MTB - Schultz

Goaltending: HAM - Danis (W - 26 shots, 25 saves) / MTB - Auld (L - 33 shots, 31 saves)

Shots on Goal: HAM 33 / MTB 26

ATTN - 4,583

Apr. 1 vs. St. John's (L 2-1) - In front of a season-high crowd of 13,692 at Copps Coliseum, the third largest attendance at a regular season game in Bulldogs history, Hamilton lost 2-1 to the Maple Leafs. Joel Kwiatkowski had the game-winning goal for the Leafs and Mikael Tellqvist had 38 saves on 39 shots. Jason Ward had a strong game for the Bulldogs with a goal and seven shots.

Game Notes:

Scoring: HAM - Ward / SJS - Murphy, Kwiatkowski

Goaltending: HAM - Danis (L - 32 shots, 30 saves) / SJS - Tellqvist (W - 39 shots, 38 saves)

Shots on Goal: HAM 39 / SJS 32

ATTN - 13,692

Apr. 2 at Syracuse (W 3-0) - Yann Danis was spectacular, stopping all 43 of the shots he faced, leading the Bulldogs to a 3-0 win over the Crunch. Hamilton's defensive corps chipped in offensively in the second period with goals from Dan Jancevski and Trevor Daley. Corey Locke sealed the victory with an insurance marker in the third period.

Game Notes:

Scoring: HAM - Jancevski, Daley, Locke / SYR - (no scoring)

Goaltending: HAM - Danis (W - 43 shots, 43 saves) / SYR - Goehring (L - 39 shots, 36 saves)

Shots on Goal: HAM 39 / SYR 43

ATTN - 5,723

Apr. 3 vs. Grand Rapids (W 4-1) - In their fourth game in four and a half days, the Bulldogs didn't show any signs of fatigue, downing the Griffins 4-1 to finish off the week with a win. Tomas Plekanec and Antti Miettinen each had a goal and an assist to lead the Bulldogs offensively in the game. Making 19 saves on 20 shots and picking up the win, goaltender Dan Ellis was solid between the pipes in his first game since losing 4-1 on Saturday, March 12th ironically against the same Grand Rapids Griffins.

Game Notes:

Scoring: HAM - Ward, Plekanec, Miettinen, Higgins / GRA - Himelfarb

Goaltending: HAM - Ellis (W - 20 shots, 19 saves) / GRA - MacDonald (L - 25 shots, 22 saves), MacIntyre (5 shots, 4 saves)

Shots on Goal: HAM 30 / GRA 20

ATTN - 5,534

TEAM NOTES

The Bulldogs are 7-2-1-0 in their last ten games and 8-1-1-0 in their last ten divisional games.

Captain Jason Ward has ten points (5g, 5a) with a plus four rating in his last ten games.

In his last five games, defenceman Trevor Daley has 6 points (1g, 5a).

Leading scorer Tomas Plekanec has five points (2g, 3a) in his last five games.

Defenceman Ron Hainsey and Mike Komisarek have each earned a plus/minus rating of (+8) in the past ten games

Bulldogs goaltender Yann Danis has started nine of the last ten games, compiling a 6-3-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.67 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.

BULLDOGS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Yann Danis - Posted two wins, a shutout, a 1.00 GAA and a .970 save percentage in three games last week. Danis made 25 saves on 26 shots in the 2-1 win over Manitoba on Wednesday, March 30th, and turned aside 30 of the 32 shots he faced in a losing effort against the Leafs on Friday, April 1st. Then Danis was perfect against the Crunch on Saturday, April 2nd, stopping all 43 of the shots that Syracuse sent his way. Danis also now holds the franchise record for most wins in a single season (25) and is tied for most shutouts in a single season (5) by a Bulldogs' goaltender.

DOGS WITH BITE

Tomas Plekanec - Notched a goal and three assists last week. Plekanec had two assists in the 3-0 win over the Crunch (Apr. 2nd) and a goal and an assist on Sunday (Apr. 3rd) when the Bulldogs defeated the Griffins 4-1.

Corey Locke - Tallied a point in every game last week with a goal and three assists in four games. Locke had an assist on the game-winning goal against Manitoba (Mar. 30th), an assist on Hamilton's only goal of the game against St. John's (Apr. 1st), a goal versus Syracuse on Saturday (Apr. 2nd) and another assist yesterday in a win over Grand Rapids (Apr. 3rd).

Jason Ward - Scored two goals and an assist in the three home games last week. Ward had an assist against Manitoba (Mar. 30th), the only Bulldogs goal against the Leafs on Friday (Apr. 1st) and another goal yesterday against the Griffins.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, April 8th - 7:30 pm vs. Milwaukee Admirals - National Sports Night

All Fans in attendance at the game will receive a coupon for a free skate sharpening from National Sports.

Fans are encouraged to stop by the National Sports booth and enter to win some fabulous prizes throughout the game.

UPCOMING GAMES

Wed. April 6th, 7:00 p.m. & Fri. April 8th, 7:30 p.m. - Milwaukee Admirals @ Bulldogs

Hamilton is 1-1-0-0 against the Milwaukee Admirals (43-20-4--5) in two games this season.

Forward Steve Ott leads the Bulldogs with three points (2g, 1a) in two games against Milwaukee this season.

The Bulldogs have scored the first goal in both games against the Admirals this season.

Darren Haydar leads the Admirals with three points (2g, 1a) in two games against the Bulldogs this season.

Sat. April 9th, 8:30 p.m. & Sun. April 10th, 3:00 p.m.- Bulldogs @ Manitoba Moose

Hamilton is 4-2-0-0 versus the Manitoba Moose (40-22-3-7) in six games this season.

Forward Chris Higgins leads the Bulldogs with six points (4g, 2a) in five games against the Moose this season.

Hamilton has a record of 1-1-0-0 at the MTS Center this season.

Moose forwards Lee Goren (4g, 2a) and Ryan Kesler (2g, 4a) lead Manitoba with six points in six games against the Bulldogs this season.



American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2005


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