OHL Brantford Bulldogs

Lardis Calls The Hats In 5-4 Overtime Comeback Against Rangers

December 9, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. The Brantford Bulldogs wrapped up their 3-in-3 weekend on Saturday night at home against the OHL leading Kitchener Rangers in the back half of their home & home series.

The Civic Centre was buzzing from the start with over 3100 fans jammed packed to see the Highway 24 rematch. Unlike the Friday meeting, the Bulldogs opened up the scoring at 9:10. Patrick Thomas found the puck in the right wing corner off a Florian Xhekaj faceoff win and was able to hit Nick Lardis all alone in front, scoring his 21st goal of the season to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead. The Rangers found an answer late in the period while on a 4-minute power play. With just 15-seconds left in the advantage, at 16:28, Hunter Brzustewicz's shot from the middle of the line was denied by Matteo Drobac but the puck popped to Matthew Sop who tucked it around Drobac's pad for his 20th of the season tying the game 1-1, which is where the proceedings stood after 20 minutes.

The second frame was all Rangers with a bit of positive puck luck helping the visitors race out to the lead. At 12:08, Matthew Andonovski whistled a wrist shot from the midde of the blueline that rang the back bar for his 3rd of the year giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Just 48-seconds later, Justin Bottineau jumped on a turnover right infront of the Bulldogs net, pulling Drobac out of his goal and tucking it around his pad to give the Rangers 3-1 lead over the Bulldogs. The Rangers offensive push continued at 15:23, Luca Romano recorded his 3rd of the season after his shot from the slot bounced off the backboards and off Lucas Moore's skate before rolling over the goal line to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead they took to the locker room through 40 minutes.

The Bulldogs came out for the 3rd period a different team and began to chip away at the Rangers lead at 4:06 on the power-play. Jake O'Brien moved the puck to Patrick Thomas on the left half boards where the playmaker swung a beautiful cross-seam pass to Nick Lardis who unloaded a one timer for his 2nd of the game and 22nd of the season to pull the Bulldogs to within a pair at 4-2. Patrick Thomas wasn't done as Florian Xhekaj cleared the space down the left wing half boards, Thomas tossed the puck middle to Lardis where his shot was denied by Malboeuf. As Thomas arrived at the front of the net, he found the puck bouncing off the Rangers netminder and batted it into the back of the net for his 7th of the season pulling the Bulldogs to within a goal at 4-3. Calvin Crombie continued his knack for scoring goals in important moments at 10:31, after Tomas Hamara flew the puck forward on a perfect sneak-away pass to the Bulldogs forward. Crombie drove the net and Malboeuf made the initial stop however, the puck deflected off a backchecking Antonio Pugliese and into the Kitchener net, tying the game 4-4 on Crombie's 6th of the season. The Rangers had their opportunity late on the power-play with Cole Brown in the box but with some timely shot blocking and a pair of tremendous pad saves from Matteo Drobac, the Bulldogs managed the kill and the game made its way to overtime for the second straight night.

With just a minute left in the extra period, Jorian Donovan's shot from the right point deflected back into neutral ice where Florian Xhekaj collected the puck. Feeding indirect to Nick Lardis on the right wing boards, Lardis regrouped and carried into the Rangers zone with speed. Dragging the puck in his stride and lasering a shot top corner, Lardis recorded his hat-trick goal, & 23rd of the season, in the most dynamic way, lifting the Bulldogs to an incredible 5-4 comeback victory in overtime.

The Bulldogs return to action on Friday, December 15th, hosting the Barrie Colts for their annual Teddy Toss game at the Civic Centre with a 7:00pm start time.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2023


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