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OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Lardis & Thomas Lead Bulldogs to 4-3 Win Over 67s

January 13, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


OTTAWA, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs started their five-game road trip heading to the east for a matchup in snowy Ottawa against the conference leading 67s on Friday night. The game marked the first matchup against former captain Logan Morrison since his trade to Ottawa.

Just 1:52 into the game after Matteo Drobac made a crucial save without his stick, Patrick Thomas picked up the puck and rushed up the ice, striding to the right and getting past his defenseman creating a 2-on-1. Thomas sent a saucer pass over the defending stick, right onto the tape of Sahil Panwar who tapped it in past a sliding Max Donoso to record his 11th of the season & 1st as a Bulldog, giving Hamilton a 1-0 lead. Just after the midway point of the period, Cam Tolnai believed he had tied the game off a wacky bounce in front of Drobac's goal, the play however, was deemed to be offside after a lengthy review by the officials, and the game remained 1-0. Hamilton only gained momentum from there, as less than a minute later, Panwar and Nick Lardis continued their chemistry, quickly earning a 2-on-1 with Panwar sending it over to Lardis who one-timed it past Donoso to double the Bulldogs lead on his 15th of the season and 2nd point of the night at 12:25. Before the period was out, with Hamilton on the powerplay, Nick Lardis rocketed a cross-seam pass to Cole Brown from which Brown sent a hard pass net front to the stick of Patrick Thomas who netted his 6th goal in five games, 12th of the season and 3rd point of the opening period to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The 67s attempted to mount a comeback in the middle frame, just afted Donoso denied Lawson Sherk on a short-handed breakaway, Ottawa struck at even strength with rookie Frankie Marrelli shooting through the traffic which Drobac could not see picking up his first career goal to get his team on the board at 11:34. At 15:21, Jack Matier threw a shot from the right point to the net which Drobac kicked out front and Cooper Foster beat everyone to the rebound sending it in the net to make it a 3-2 game. With under a minute left in the frame, the Bulldogs rushed up the ice on a 3-on-2 with Florian Xhekaj carrying the puck over the blue line and shifting it over to Ben Bujold who quickly crossed it net front to a racing Cedricson Okitundu who tapped it in past Donoso, giving Okitundu his 6th of the season and first as a Bulldog at 19:18 sending Hamilton to the final frame up 4-2.

Hamilton carried over their momentum from the late second period goal, with Lardis, Donovan and Xhekaj getting quality shots turned away by Donoso. With 2:16 remaining in the game, Marek Vanacker ripped a shot on net which Donoso gloved down, but it was Henry Mews after the whistle throwing a cross-check to the head of Vanacker earning the rookie a 5-minute major and game misconduct, putting the 67s on the penalty kill in the dying minutes down by two.

Despite the disadvantage, Ottawa pulled one closer with Cam Tolnai skating it up the ice & tossing a left circle shot which fooled Drobac skipping past his glove to make it 4-3 at 17:54, but that was as close as Ottawa would get as Hamilton was able to close out the game with Matteo Drobac making 35 saves and Patrick Thomas & Nick Lardis each posting 3-points, upsetting the Eastern Conference leaders and sweeping the season series at TD Place.

The Bulldogs are right back on the ice tomorrow night travelling to the Leon's Centre to face the Kingston Frontenacs with the puck dropping at 7pm.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Holiday Flex packages or single game tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2023


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