Grabovski Nets Hat Trick In Bulldogs Win

Published on February 15, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ON - Mikhail Grabovski posted his first-career American Hockey League hat trick and added an assist to lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to a season-high seven goals and a 7-4 win over the Toronto Marlies on Friday night at Copps Coliseum. With the victory, the Bulldog's improve their record to 24-21-1-5 on the season.

Grabovski opened the scoring with two goals in 17 seconds at 12:45 and 13:02 of the first period to give Hamilton a 2-0 lead. On the first goal, Grabovski deked into the Marlies zone and fired a wrist shot over the blocker of netminder Justin Pogge. Grabovski then re-directed a point shot from Jean-Philippe Cote into Toronto's net to give the 'Dogs a two-goal cushion. Former 'Dog Maxim Lapierre set the franchise record earlier this season for the quickest two goals by one player with two tallies in 10 seconds on November 2nd, 2007 versus the Syracuse Crunch.

The Marlies tied the game 2-2 with two quick goals just 11 seconds apart to open the second period. David Ling and Alex Foster combined to set-up Brent Aubin's third tally of the season at the 1:09 mark. Then at 1:20 of the frame, Derrick Walser snapped the puck past Bulldogs goaltender Yann Danis for his 14th goal of the campaign.

Toronto took the lead at 12:58 of the middle stanza when Aubin notched his second marker of the game. Michel Leveille drew the lone assist on the 3-2 goal.

The Bulldogs evened the score 3-3 at 16:06 of the middle stanza when Mathieu Carle blasted a slap shot from the blue line into the back of the Marlies net. Daniel Corso and Jonathan Ferland assisted on Carle's fourth tally of the campaign.

The teams then exchanged goals again in the final stanza to make the score 4-4. Matt D'Agostini notched his 14th marker of the season for the 'Dogs at 1:05 of the frame. Andy Wozniewski answered for the Baby Leafs at the 7:49 mark with his second goal of the campaign.

Grabovski then completed the hat trick by burying the game-winning goal at 9:03 of the third frame on the power play. Corso, who picked up his third assist of the night, and D'Agostini, who also registered his third point of the game, earned helpers on the 5-4 goal.

The Dog's added some insurance markers with two more quick goals in the final period. Carle netted his second tally of the game while on the power play at 15:05 of the period to increase Hamilton's lead to 6-4. Ajay Baines then notched his fifth goal of the season just 15 seconds later to round out the scoring at 7-4.

With four tallies in the third stanza, the Bulldogs set a season-high for goals in one period. Hamilton had scored three goals in one period 10 times prior to tonight's game.

Yann Danis made 24 saves on 28 shots for Hamilton to earn the win, while Pogge turned aside 27 of 34 shots in a losing effort for Toronto.

The Bulldogs were 2-for-7 with the man advantage, ending an eight-game goalless drought on the power play, and went 3-of-3 on the penalty kill.

The defending Calder Cup Champion Hamilton Bulldogs return to action tomorrow night (Saturday, February 16th) 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.

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.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2008


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