Injury-depleted Bulldogs Fall to Barons, 3-0

By Dale Lamontagne, Hamilton Bulldogs Correspondent, Bulldogs Hockey Report – Twitter @Dale_Bulldogs 

HAMILTON, ON — The injury plagued Hamilton Bulldogs took on the Oklahoma City Barons (American Hockey  League affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers) on Sunday afternoon at the FirstOntario Centre, in Hamilton’s third game in three nights.

Both teams entered today’s contest having played two games in two nights, and today would mark the third in three.

The Montreal Canadiens sent Sven Andrighetto to the Bulldogs after Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hamilton really needed the offensive support – especially since this afternoon was their third game in three nights.

It only took 4 minutes and 14 seconds for the game to see its first goal, and that would go to the Oklahoma City Barons. Forward Jason Williams picked the puck off a Hamilton player and backhanded it past MacDonald on the blocker side, to notch his 14th goal of the season.

The Bulldogs then pushed hard to get on the board, but there were not successful as the Barons netminder Richard Bachman made 11 big saves in the opening frame.

But with only 4:27 to go in the period, the Barons extended their lead to 2-0 thanks to Iro Pakarinen, who tipped a shot from the point that squeaked by MacDonald.

The second period came to an end in Hamilton and the Barons remained up by two goals. Although the Bulldogs trail the Barons, Hamilton did generate some more offensive chances and outshot Oklahoma in the second 9-7. But Bachman was real solid for the Barons and the ‘Dogs just could not find a way to get by him.

Five minutes into the third, Bowman had a solid chance to score, as he initially shot the puck but then there was a huge rebound and Bowman shot the puck at an open net, but some how Bachman made sure that puck stayed out. Close call.

The Bulldogs had another solid opportunity to score, this time from forward Nevins, who shot the puck wide and missed an open net.

With about two minutes to go, Bowman tripped over the Bulldogs net and appeared to be in some pain as he struggled to walk on his left foot. He left the rest of the period and did not return.

(After the game head coach Sylvain Lefebvre provided an update on Bowman saying that he will be just fine.)

But with a minute left, the Barons put the nail in the coffin and made it 3-0 with an empty net goal from Andrew Miller.

With tonight’s loss, the Bulldogs went 1-2-0 on the weekend set.

Injury Update – 

The Bulldogs were without forwards Connor Crisp (injured), Eric Tangradi (injured) and Shane Bakker (healthy) and defencemen Magnus Nygren (injured) and Jarred Tinordi (injured) tonight and coach Lefebvre said post-game that they’re hoping Crisp and Tinordi will only miss about a week or two.

Quick Notes – 

Attendance  – 4,255
Total shots – Hamilton 26, Oklahoma 31
Three Stars – 1) Bachman (OKC), 2) Williams (OKC), 3) MacDonald (HAM)

Next Game  – 

The Bulldogs will resume their season long seven game homestand on Wednesday as they play host to the Milwaukee Admirals at FirstOntario Centre with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.