Jan 12 BULLDOGS SURVIVE A LATE SCARE

Lake Erie’s final push in the third came close to sending it to overtime but their efforts sunk, 3-2.

In the first neither team was able to generate much of an offensive and the period played out slow.

“We didn’t seem to have the jump we wanted and I think that’s what every team is looking for to get a good start and build from there and get better,” said Hamilton head coach, Randy Cunneyworth.

“I thought we were better in the second and we certainly hustled in the third. We had a difficult time getting going and in the end it came and we were battling and you see the effort is there. That’s the main thing but some nights it’s going to happen that way for whatever reason.”

The opening minutes saw Lake Erie goaltender, Jason Bacashihua, lose track of a blue line shot that just trickled over the top of him and behind in the net.

The best opportunity for scoring was a Bulldogs giveaway to Monsters right-winger, David Van der Gulik, who was in front of the net but his shot was saved by Bulldogs goalie, Curtis Sanford.

In the second, the Bulldogs intensity rose and the offense opened up.

“We sensed we weren’t going as hard as we would have liked and we know we can go better and sometimes it’s just a state of mind and you’re trying to do too much,” said Cunneyworth.

“Simplify, get the feet moving and make the easier pass. It’s a close checking affair out there and guys weren’t giving a lot a room so it’s hard for guys to get going and I think that’s what was the case.”

Hamilton missed two great scoring opportunities early in the second as Ryan Russell was denied on a one-on-one with Bacashihua after Lake Erie defensemen, Matt Generous, tripped over his own skates. A two-on-one was also thwarted when Bacashihua blocked right-winger J.T. Wyman’s shot.

Hamilton got on the board first when Olivier Fortier scored a power play goal after Monster centre, Patrick Rissmiller, was penalized for delay of game.

The lead was short lived though as a blast from the blue line from defensemen, Cameron Gaunce, tied things up at one a piece.

With half the period left, Hamilton’s Andreas Engqvist hammered one passed Bacashihua in the top right to regain the lead.

In the dying minutes of the second, Hamilton’s Alexander Avtsin, Engqvist and Russell connected on a tic-tac-toe play for Russell’s fifth of the year and a 3-1 lead going in the third.

Both teams coasted in the final frame until the final three minutes when Lake Erie pulled Bacashihua. With less than two minutes to go, Ben Walter brought Lake Erie closer when his screened shot slipped passed Sanford making it 3-2.

“Obviously with the extra attacker it was a bit of a miscue there and it ended up in front of our net, which is one place it shouldn’t be certainly,” said Cunneyworth.

At the other end, Wyman missed a contested empty net and the Monsters continued to put pressure on Hamilton.

However, a hooking penalty on Van der Gulik with 15 seconds left sealed the faint of Lake Erie.

“I thought for the most part, withstanding a few minor incidents, we did a good job overall defensively,” said Cunneyworth.

“They’re a good team, we play them often and we play them very close. Obviously on a night where we’re trying to find our way, we just want to keep on getting better and make sure we didn’t give them any free chances.”

Tags: ahl \ Curtis Sanford \ Hamilton Bulldogs \ Lake Erie \ Randy Cunneyworth