Donovan & Drobac Earn Bulldogs Point In 3-2 Ot Loss
October 14, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release
PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO. Closing a weekend home & home between the previous two OHL Champions, the Brantford Bulldogs made their first of three trips to the Peterborough Memorial Centre to square off with the Petes.
The first period began with the teams trading power-plays with Matteo Drobac, who stopped 12 in the opening period, shutting the door through a pair of Petes power-plays while Liam Sztuska, starting his 3rd game in three nights, denied the Bulldogs through one of their own. At 10:54, after Jorian Donovan was taken awkwardly into the end boards by Samuel Mayer, Cedricsson Okitundu came over in defense of his teammate and got his stick into the face of Mayer, causing the Bulldogs defenseman to receive a match penalty and a game ejection. With the Petes on the power-play at 14:58, Carson Cameron's shot from the middle of the blueline deflected off a Bulldogs defender and then off the stick of Sam McCue to give the Petes a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs, who were outshot 13-3 to that point, turned the period after the goal, putting consistent pressure on Liam Sztuska with Lawson Sherk, Nick Lardis & Callum Cheynowski all having opportunites the Petes netminder had to turn aside to keep the hosts up a goal after 1.
The middle frame opened with a scary moment, 19-seconds in Bulldogs defenseman Lucas Moore was left down on the ice with an apparent injury that required help off the ice. The dynamic defenseman showed his incredible heart returning to the game near the halfway point of the period allowing Bulldogs staff and fans a sigh of relief. Jorian Donovan made himself part of the story of the middle period, confidently and proficiently carrying the puck up and down the ice, seeing it pay off at 4:27. After Donovan knocked a clearing attempt down at the right point he attacked the right circle, exciting at the bottom, shaking a defender and jamming the puck to Sztuska. The attempt created a rebound opportunity that was jumped on by Braeden O'Keefe for his 1st of the season tying the game 1-1. While the Bulldogs outshot the Petes 13-8 in the second, Matteo Drobac had a big hand in the game remaining tied through 40, as the Bulldogs killed off back-to-back penalties in the latter half of the frame.
Jorian Donovan continued an outstanding performance to open the third period, exiting the penalty box following a questionable holding call, the defenceman raced up the left wing on a Noah Van Vliet pass. With Noah Nelson flying ahead to create a 2-on-1, Donovan ripped a shot past Sztuska to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game on his 1st of the season. At 6:16 the Petes responded, Sam McCue came to an open puck in the left circle of the Bulldogs zone and just managed to sneak a shot under the crossbar to tie the game 2-2. 60-minutes proved not enough and after Lawson Sherk & Jorian Donovan opened overtime strong, the Petes took their chance through Chase Lefebvre, his breakaway stopped by Matteo Drobac, who made 37 saves on the night, he was able to score on a second chance to give the Petes a 3-2 overtime win.
The Brantford Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday night, October 18th at the Brantford Civic Centre, hosting the London Knights in their only appearance of the season in Brantford at 7:00pm.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2023
- Spitfires Lose to Erie 7-1 - Windsor Spitfires
- Otters Score 7 in First Home Win of the Season - Erie Otters
- Firebirds Surrender Lead Late, Fall to Guelph, 2-1 - Flint Firebirds
- McCue Scores Twice as Petes Beat Bulldogs in Overtime - Peterborough Petes
- Donovan & Drobac Earn Bulldogs Point In 3-2 Ot Loss - Brantford Bulldogs
- Spirit Fall to Steelheads, 4-3 - Saginaw Spirit
- Firebirds Look to Carry Momentum into Saturday Night Home Game - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Face Mississauga in Saturday Matinee - Saginaw Spirit
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