Coming home was never sweeter for the Bulldogs. After getting shutout, three straight times on the road the Bulldogs rekindled their scoring touch at home. Overall their futility streak lasted 200 minutes and 29 seconds.
The game started off in typical Bulldog fashion. The opposing team, this time the Rockford IceHogs, scored first, and it was an early goal to boot. At 1:53 into the first period Ben Smith converted a Shawn Lalonde rebound for his 14th of the season. Things were starting to look bleak late in the period, not only were the Bulldogs down, but they were being outshot 16-10 by the IceHogs, but it was their 11th shot, in the dwindling second(s) of the period that lifted the Bulldog faithful to their feet. With 1 second left in the period Patrick Holland tipped home a Gabriel Dumont shot for his 4th of the season with no time to spare. Mike Blunden also had an assist on the play.
Dumont continued his hot play in the second. He deflected a Fredric St-Denis point shot passed the IceHogs’ Alec Richards for his 10th of the season. Dumont’s goal put him in sole possesion of the team scoring lead, he was previously tied with Brendan Gallagher.
Dumont has been the hot hand for the Dogs lately. In their last home game he recorded 3 goals and added another two assists, to go along with his two points last night he has 7 in his past 2 home games. In his fourth season as a professional Dumont is already only 4 points away from his previous career high of 24 points, set last year.
In the third, Olivier Fortier converted a Phillippe Lefebvre rebound for his first of the season to put the Bulldogs up 3-1. Robert Mayer played strong in net for the Dogs, stopping 35 of the 36 shots he faced. Not only did he play great, but he also made one kids night. In the third period an errant puck was deflected into the crowd and struck a child in the face. The arena crew tended to the kid (who was alright) and at the next whistle Mayer skated over and handed the kid his game used stick. A very classy gesture from last nights second star.
The Bulldogs will be back in action tonight when they host the Lake Erie Monsters.
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
1. RFD – Ben Smith – 14 – (Shawn Lalonde, Brandon Pirri) 1:53
2. HAM – Patrick Holland – 4 – (Gabriel Dumont, Mike Blunden) 19:59
2nd Period:
3. HAM – Gabriel Dumont – 10 – (Frederic St-Denis, Stefan Chaput) 17:11 PP
3rd Period:
4. HAM – Olivier Fortier – 1 – (Philippe Lefebvre, Steve Quailer) 5:51
Scoring:
Rockford: 1-0-0-1
Hamilton: 1-1-1-3
Shots:
Rockford: 16-12-8-36
Hamilton: 11-11-6-28
Goaltending:
Rockford: Alec Richards (L – 28 shots, 25 saves)
Hamilton: Robert Mayer (W – 36 shots, 35 saves)
Power Play:
Rockford: 0-for-3
Hamilton: 1-for-5
Attendance: 4,505
Three Stars:
1. HAM – Gabriel Dumont (1 goals, 1 assist, 4 shots)
2. HAM – Robert Mayer (35 saves)
3. HAM – Patrick Holland (1 goal, +1, 1 shot)
