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Brantford Bulldogs

Nelson's First Career Multi-Goal Game Pushes Bulldogs Past Otters

March 5, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ONTARIO. The Hamilton Bulldogs were back home Sunday afternoon for their second game of the weekend welcoming the Erie Otters into town. Bulldogs' defenseman Callum Cheynowski made his first return to the lineup since December 4th.

Florian Xhekaj earned an in-tight opportunity just over a minute into the game, but sent the puck just high of the net. The next few minutes proved uneventful for both teams, as they tried to scope out each other's rhythms. 7 minutes in, Nick Lardis was sent to the penalty box for tripping, just his third penalty of the season. Artem Grushnikov made a big play on the penalty kill diving out preventing a net front pass and keeping the puck under him to kill off a few extra seconds. The only shot Erie managed to get on net was gloved down easily by goaltender Matteo Drobac. As Hamilton tried to shake off a slow start, Matteo Drobac stood tall in his net hoping to boost the team's momentum, making a huge net front stop off the stick of Cayuga, Ontario's Sam Alfano. Moments later, Erie's Colby Saganiuk worked his way in and fired a shot using the defenseman as a screen, but Drobac got his shoulder on the puck and sent it over the net. Lawson Sherk took the second penalty of the game at the 6 minute mark for holding, giving the Otters another chance on the man advantage. Erie applied more pressure this time around, but still weren't able to solve Matteo Drobac. The Otters best chance came of the stick of rookie Malcolm Spence who received a cross crease pass for a tap in goal but fanned on the puck and dribbled it wide. As time on the clock expired ending the opening period, the Bulldogs went to the dressing room trailing 8-4 in shots.

Hamilton seemed to have an extra jump in their step to start off the middle frame, tying the shots at 8 just 2 minutes in. The tying shot also happened to be the opening goal of the game off the stick of Nick Lardis who faked a pass to Cole Brown and lasered the puck by the glove of Jacob Gibbons for his 32nd goal of the season, making it 1-0 for the Bulldogs. At the 14:46 mark, Taeo Artichuk wrapped his stick around Lawson Sherk sending Sherk crashing into the boards, sending Hamilton to their first powerplay of the afternoon. Sherk ended up being okay after the play. The Bulldogs struggled at first to gain momentum on the powerplay however, and the Otters killed it off with relative ease. Shortly after the powerplay expired, Jacob Gibbons made a big rebound save off the stick of Masen Wray keeping his team within 1. The Bulldogs continued to apply pressure earning the lead in the shot department. Florian Xhekaj being contained on the right side of the offensive zone sent a flip pass to the middle of the ice for Ben Bujold to pick up and fire on net but was denied by Gibbons. At the 7:20 mark, Matteo Drobac continued his hot streak making a big save off the stick of Liam Gilmartin and stretched his left pad over in desperation stopping Colby Saganiuk on the rebound to keep his team ahead. Moments later however, Kaleb Smith received a pass and cut in on the left side and snapped the puck far corner over Drobac as he was trying to take the short side away, tying the game 1-1. In the final minutes of the middle period, it was the Otters applying more pressure in the offensive zone, and drawing a penalty on Cole Brown for hooking, earning their 3rd powerplay of the game with 37 seconds left in the period. Drobac was able to pounce on top of a point shot, and the Bulldogs penalty kill drowned out the remainder of the period. Shots after 2 were all tied up at 18 apiece. Erie will open the final period with 1:22 carryover time on Brown's hooking penalty.

The Otters capitalized on their powerplay as Carey Terrance pushed a rebound through the five hole of Drobac giving Erie their first lead of the afternoon, just 37 seconds into the final period.

The Bulldogs started to get more pucks towards Jacob Gibbons after giving up the lead, but Gibbons was determined to earn his second career OHL win. 7:55 into the period, Callum Cheynowski sent a point shot just wide of the net that hit the back boards and trickled back to Noah Nelson parked out front who chipped it over the pad of Gibbons for his 4th goal of the season, tying the game up at 2. Teams swapped chances in the remaining minutes of the game trying to break the tie. At the 4:35 mark, Malcolm Spence raced down the left side earning a step on the defenseman and wristed a shot on net that Drobac denied with his glove. Fast forward to the 2:41 mark, Cole Brown carried the puck into the offensive zone and ripped the puck far side under the arm of Gibbons that dinged right off the far goalpost and back out. As Gibbons scrambled to find the puck, Noah Nelson raced in and pushed the rebound into the net for his 2nd of the game giving the Bulldogs a late lead. A minute later however, Noah Van Vliet was called for an interference penalty that put the Otters on a man advantage for the remaining 1:40 of the period. Erie pulled their goalie to make it a 6-on-4 and went to work. Matteo Drobac made several crucial stops in the final minute and was able to cover the puck with 2.5 seconds left. Erie called their timeout and made one last ditch effort to put the puck in the net, but the clock died out and the Bulldogs won by a score of 3-2. Shots ended 31-26 in favor of Erie.

The Bulldogs are back in action this Thursday, March 9th for the first half of a home and home series against the Niagara IceDogs. The puck drops at 7:00pm at the Meridian Centre.

For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Ticket Packages call 905-529-8500 or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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