Bulldogs break Wolves win streak at three

A 3-2 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs ended a three game winning streak for the Chicago Wolves. The game, Friday at the Copps Coliseum, saw the Bulldogs open the first period with a 2-0 lead over the Wolves.

Robert Gherson, the Wolves goalie, deflected a power play shot by Yannick Weber into the back boards. However it got lost in a melee in front of the net, going from David Desharnais to Mike Glumac and then past Gherson into the net. Later in the period, while Chicago was on the power play, Yanick Lehoux made a break away attack. Gherson left the crease to poke check the puck, missing he lost a race to block a shot by Steve Gainey.

Jeff Hamilton was able to cut the lead to one in the second period when Chicago was on the power play. Ryan O'Byrne gave the Bulldogs insurance to their win, when with 4:56 left to play, he scored from the blue line. Steve Martins was able to bring the Wolves back to within one with a goal with 2:36 remaining. The Wolves emptied the net with a less than a minute to play, but were unable to use the advantage to send the game into overtime.

Gherson stopped 17 shots on goal for the loss. Hamilton goalie Cedrick Desjardins stopped 25 shots on goal for the win. Clay Wilson, in his third game with the Wolves, notched assists on both goals.

Josh Unice update

JT, who follows the Montreal Canadiens, has been in a funk and decided to look at the up and coming prospects for the Habs in the Ontario Hockey League. He had the opportunity to watch Chicago Blackhawks goalie prospect Josh Unice. His comments on Carey Price and the development status of Unice are to the point: “Kitchener's Josh Unice was a third-round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks last year, but he still looks like it'd be a big jump for him to play AHL-calibre hockey next season.

“Carey Price was playing where these guys are playing last year. He has gone from the world of the Unices and Van Buskirks, past the world of the Pogges, Berniers and Rasks, to the realm of the Brodeurs and Luongos in one season. When you consider his stats in the NHL, behind a defence that ranged from brilliant to porous on any given night, and realize that his 2.56 GAA was nineteenth in the league, and his 0.920 SV% ranked him seventh, it starts to sink in. He's not only playing with the big boys, while his highly-touted contemporaries are still playing junior or American League Hockey, but he's competing with the big boys too."

Preds recall Rinne

The Nashville Predators have recalled Pekka Rinne from the Milwaukee Admirals Sunday. The Predators list three goalies on their line-up, Dan Ellis, Chris Mason and Rinne. The loss of Rinne for any games is likely to hurt the Milwaukee Admirals, as they are currently in fifth place in the West Division, with just three points between them and the sixth-place Peoria Rivermen.

Both teams have a substantial lead on the fourth-place North Division team, the Hamilton Bulldogs and one would be able to move to the North Division for the playoffs if the season ended today.

Predators Coach Barry Trotz was quoted on the Admirals Crew discussion board as saying, “our decision now is to keep three goaltenders here.” Since losing Rinne, the MAds have been 1-1.

Rivermen hurt by 2-1 loss Sunday v Wolves

The Chicago Wolves defeated the Peoria Rivermen 2-1, Sunday, in a contest at the Carver Arena. It was the first time the two American Hockey League West Division foes had met since December 19th and marked the seventh game this season between the two teams.

The Rivermen, in sixth place in the West Division, were dealt a blow, today, when the St. Louis Blues assigned goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. The hopes of the team now rest with a rookie, up from the University of Maine, Ben Bishop and also Marek Schwarz.

Bishop had a 13-18 record with the Black Bears this season, with a 92.3 save percentage, which was the third best in a season for the team. His 819 season saves were fifth in Maine’s history.

Schwarz has a save percentage of 89.5, and a record of 12-11-2.

The two teams meet three more times in the next month. The Rivermen have edged the Quad City Flames for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, probably a North Division spot due to weakness in that division. Although the Rivermen lead the fourth place North Division Hamilton Bulldogs by three points with a game in hand, two surging teams are ahead of the Rivermen.

The Milwaukee Admirals, with a 7-3 record in the last ten games, have 75 points, or a three point lead, with the Rivermen having a game in hand. While the Houston Aeros, technically in fifth place, have a one-point lead and three games in hand over the Rivermen. The Aeros are also 7-3 in their last ten games.

The Rivermen play the Admirals twice in the next week, the Aeros three games in the next three weeks.

Wolves win, .1 second left, 3-2 over Bulldogs

Time expired as a puck slipped past Hamilton Bulldogs goalie Yann Danis, putting the Chicago Wolves ahead 3-2 in a contest at the Allstate Arena Wednesday. The power play goal, off the stick of Darren Haydar, marked the Wolves’ 45th win of the season, putting them in first place in the American Hockey League.

The fourth game in the current win streak, the Wolves have won 16 points in their last ten contests, which is the best current record in the Western Conference. Ondrej Pavelec goes from strength to strength. His last regulation loss was February 1 against the Milwaukee Admirals, 5-4. Pavelec who took a shot to the mask, blocked another shot with an unusual jump, and nabbed a third shot while airborne Wednesday, has shown a masterful streak and new confidence in the past month. His puck handling is in the zone.

At his back is Boris Valabik. Valabik single-handedly ate a large part of a power play against the Wolves by freezing the puck against the boards behind the opposing net for upwards of 20 seconds in a recent contest against the Iowa Stars. Two, then three opposition players ganged up on the tall 6’7” Slovakian. But Valabik was able to hold the puck against their efforts. He is having the best month since November, with +4 and a goal.

His fight with Greg Stewart, Wednesday, arranged during the intermission as Stewart and Valabik skated to their bench, showed that although he is physical, he is not a player who will depend only on his physical menace. Don’t get me wrong. Valabik held his own against Stewart. But Stewart, who is smaller and lighter than Valabik, was able to get under the big mans arms and within reach very fast. It made for a great fight. Valabik eventually was able to get a handle on Stewart, but ended up beneath him at the end.

The Wolves, with 17 games remaining in the season, need to come out strong. They need to scare every other team off the ice when the season ends in a month. And, the teams they will face in the playoffs are eager to knock them from their perch atop the standings now. Every remaining game in the Western Conference seems to hold importance to at least one team. Hamilton, for example, is in fourth place of the North Division. With an eight-point lead against the Grand Rapids Griffins and 15 games to go, that would seem to be relatively safe.

However a West Division team can take the last playoff spot provided it has more points than the fourth place North Division team at the end of the season. So, Hamilton is actually in a run against the fifth place West Division team, currently the Houston Aeros. The Aeros have 73 points and four games in hand over the Bulldogs. So, the Aeros are in a comfortable lead over the Bulldogs and may even take the fourth or third place West Division spot by the end of the season.

Crombeen gets hat trick, Rinne gets a shut out

B J Crombeen got a hat trick and an assist in a 7-3 drubbing of the Lake Erie Monsters by the Iowa Stars in Iowa action tonight. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, the Hamilton Bulldogs were shut out by Pekka Rinne and the Milwaukee Admirals, 3-0.

The red-hot MAds are now 7-3 in their last ten games. They lead the Houston Aeros by two points, but the Aeros have 4 games in hand on the Admirals. The Aeros are also 7-3 in their last 10 contests.

The Quad City Flames, meanwhile, are flaming out of the competition for the final playoff spots in the West Division, trailing the Peoria Rivermen by five points with a game in hand.

Jaffray hat trick, Moose 4, Bears 2

Jason Jaffray scored a hat trick in a 4-2 victory of the Manitoba Moose over the Hershey Bears at the MTS Centre Thursday. The victory lifted the Moose to 68 points, one more than the Calder Cup defenders Hamilton Bulldogs, who have two games in hand over the Moose. Also, the win puts the Moose seven points up on the fourth place North Division Syracuse Crunch. The Crunch did not play Thursday. They are trying to hold onto the fourth playoff spot in the North Division over four teams in the West Division that can take the spot if they have more points at the end of the season.

Wolves v Rampage; Hogs v MAds

The Houston Aeros, in fourth place in the West Division of the American Hockey League, are in a tight race with four teams fighting for the last two play-off spots, one in the West and one in the North Division.

They were helped by Wednesday’s win by the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins over the fourth place North Division team, the Syracuse Crunch. And, they were helped by their own efforts too, a win Wednesday night, 1-0 over the North Division Lake Erie Monsters of Cleveland.

Although I’d earlier forecast that Syracuse was out of the hunt for the post season, due to it being so far behind the four West Division teams fighting for fourth and fifth place, there is another possibility for the team, it could catch the third place Manitoba Moose or even the second place Hamilton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, the Calder Cup winner last season, have 67 points in 58 games. The Moose have chalked up 66 points in 59 games and the fourth place Crunch have 61 points in 60 games.

So it is tight for the Crunch. They are in a hard spot. But it will be easier to beat two teams than to go on a run that beats four.

The Milwaukee Admirals, in fifth place in the West, beat the Rockford IceHogs 4-3. The IceHogs have been on a ride to nowhere lately, with only four points in ten games. Milwaukee, on the other hand has 13 points in ten games. The MAds are one of four teams in the West Division in a race for the two playoff spots, one in the West and one in the North, that seem up for grabs. The MAds are trailing the San Antonio Rampage in the standings by five points with the SAR having five games in hand.

The MAds have always been a hard-hitting team. But, I think they’ve met their match with the IceHogs, a physical team that is finishing its checks this year. The violence in hockey is usually confined to the ice surface and usually to the game. When it explodes outside of those limits, you have a problem defined outside the code. It would be fair to call it a personal problem.

The Hogs and the MAds had such a fight on Wednesday. Troy Brouwer, Colin Fraser, Kelsey Wilson and Alex Henry received a variety of penalties after the match. The two teams meet again on Saturday, March 8th at the Bradley Center. There should be fireworks.

I’m not a person to scream “fight, fight, fight” at games. But the Hogs need a boost. They need to regain their spirit. And a good scrum might help.

The Rampage hosted the Chicago Wolves for the first time this season. The Wolves, the number two team in the league, treated their hosts poorly, going ahead 5-0 at the end of the second period. But after putting 18 shots on the San Antonio goal in the first period, the Wolves seemed to relax: just 10 shots on goal for the remainder of the game.

San Antonio, on the other hand, put 40 shots on Ondrej Pavelec in the second and third frames. One of the things to look at in a team is the shots on goal. I remember games during the lockout when Kari Lehtonen was in net. The Wolves would typically give up 40, 50 and once I remember 60 shots on goal.

That’s poor defense. Have you ever heard people say it is hard to measure defense? There is a great measure of a team’s defense. I’ll put it this way: 40 shots on goal in two periods is equivalent to 60 shots on goal for 60 minutes. It is poor defense.

Visitors would complain that Kari’s numbers were inflated by off-ice officials in Chicago who favored him having a high save percentage. “They’ll give him a SOG for looking at a puck in the corner,” they said. Another way to look at it is that Lehtonen had a poor defense in front of him.

Forty shots on goal in two periods? Terrible defense. The Wolves are holding on by the grace of Pavelec. The Wolves are a good team and should be using this period leading up to the playoffs, not to rest, but to totally discourage every other team in this league. The defense needs to shut down the opposing offense. It can do it, the penalty kill numbers demonstrate it. Not only the penalty kill numbers, but in the one period the Wolves didn’t phone it in, SAR only had four shots on goal.

There’s another example of defense. Except this time it was clicking. Four shots on goal in 20 minutes of play.

These two teams meet again on Friday. Expect some fireworks. Whether true or not, a person purporting to be a former Wolves player went on a message board after the game to issue a challenge to the Wolves.

1,000 miles to hockey; Wolves take 3 more games

I’ve had to cancel the first leg of my trip, from Chicago to Moline, IL as the traffic on the expressways leaving the city are too much to make the 7 PM game time. So, let’s set it up as a Wolves victory, 2-1 over the Quad City Flames, the second win by the Wolves over the Flames this season.

In addition to that news is the addition to the team of Brent Sterling. Sterling was sent down from Atlanta apparently due to a lack of production. Rookie of the year while playing with the Wolves in the 2007 season, and American Hockey League scoring champion, the key question is whether he will produce back on the Wolves or merely mess up the lines. This first night, in Moline, Sterling is credited with a single shot on goal and no points or assists.

Windsor, Ontario, November 8, 300 miles from Chicago--- The St. Michael’s Major’s set up a wall in the Windsor Arena as Anthony Grieco, 18, stopped forty shots on goal in a 3-2 overtime win against the home team Windsor Spitfires here.

The Spitfires offensive play was frustrated by an inability to penetrate Grieco, who played for the University of North Dakota last year, but did not receive ice time there. This year, he is putting up a 93.6 percent save percentage.

Syracuse, New York, November 9, 800 miles from Chicago--- I noticed, as I entered the rink in Windsor the number of banners hanging from the ceiling. It is a sign of the quality of the team if it has a lot of banners. The Spitfires had three. Syracuse, as established and well known a hockey team as any in the American league, has just two. And neither is for the Calder Cup.

A banner hangs in the rafters for a 1954 NBA championship.

The crowd is smaller than I expect and not nearly as knowledgeable about hockey as I’d hoped. Several college-aged kids drop down in seats next to me, beer spilling on the floor, and attempt to taunt the Wolves.

The building was described on-line at Wolfkeeper as a bandbox, and the Onondaga County War Memorial does not disappoint there. Somewhat larger than the auditoriums I see at the Chicago Public Schools, I think that it might comfortably fit inside the footprint of the auditorium at Lane Tech High School.

But, within 7:50 of the first period, former Wolves captain Derek Mackenzie has scored a goal, a second goal has been potted and the Wolves are trying to kill their third 5:3 power play, led by Sterling. I’m thinking of whether Sterling will force me to lead with a piece on how former NHL players return to the AHL with a chip on the shoulder.

Behind 2-0, Fred Brathwaite, who has had to deflect too many rebounds in the first eight minutes, and has had to let two in—the scorers never seem to be able to count all the shots on goal correctly—begins to stand firm and with him, the Wolves too.

As the Wolves begin to turn the tide on the Crunch, scoring a goal first through the efforts of Andre Deveaux. Jaimie Koharski demonstrates to the crowd how wrong a referee can be. Brathwaite gets into a battle in front of the net and ends up on his belly, with the puck slipping out and out of his grasp. But Koharski can’t see it because Koharski is on the other side of Brathwaite. And, Koharski doesn’t skate up to take a closer look, whistling the play stopped.

Watching this, as the crowd explodes into “ref you suck,” you have to pause and wonder what would have happened to this game if the Crunch had been able to take another goal in the first period? The puck was just sitting there, steaming. All it needed for the fireworks was a Crunch player who wanted to be a hero.

By the end of the first frame, the Wolves have recovered the two goals and tied the game. The scoring is over for the Crunch as the scoring machine that consists of the various Wolves lines begins to bear on the hapless Crunch goalie, Adam Monro. The singing, the dancing and the spilling beer are all pointless now. The Crunch seemed doomed to fail tonight as Sterling redeems himself with two goals, making up for the two 5:3 situations he helped create. And Alexandre Giroux puts two in also. In fact, it is obvious as the game wears on that Giroux and perhaps Sterling too, is trying desperately to score a hat-trick tonight. And it is with frustration that they see the final penalty of the game against the Wolves by Scott Lehman prematurely ending their efforts.

The final is a 5-2 Wolves victory, with Lindsey Cramer of the Syracuse Post Standard saying the next morning, “Chicago is a deep, fierce, offensive team, a pseudo-NHL team in Wolves clothing. Chicago was cool even in the face of its early hole, pressuring the Crunch into defensive mistakes and make its comeback more a matter of time than talent.”

Hamilton, ON, November 10, 1,000 miles from Chicago— The Copps Coliseum has been the home to some great moments in Brathwaite’s career, a Memorial Cup win in juniors and last year’s 1-0 shutout of the Bulldogs during the Calder Cup semi-finals come immediately to mind.

Brathwaite seems home in the older building, drawing strength from it and a crowd that is appreciative of hockey and his place in its history. In the wings, stands a young goalie, just 24 years old, Gherson looks like he would be more at home playing for the Windsor Spitfires than the Wolves or the Atlanta Thrashers.

Brathwaite is in net again tonight, the second of three games in a row for the Wolves on the road trip. Along with the Toronto Marlies, the Wolves remain undefeated in regulation play in the AHL.

The Bulldogs owned the Wolves throughout last season, earning a point in every matchup with the Chicago team in the regular season and allowing them only one victory in the semi-final.

But, the Bulldogs aren’t the same team now that won the Calder Cup in June. And the Wolves jump to a 2-0 lead in the first frame of the period as Sterling potts his third and fourth goal of the season, which for him is just three AHL games.

The Bulldogs reply with three goals, bringing the Niagara Peninsula team ahead 3-2 at the end of two frames, including a very physical goal that starts as a wrap-around against Brathwaite that is hammered in by Janni Lahti.

The Wolves reply in the third frame with their second and third lines each adding a goal and then holding on as the Bulldogs attempt to bring the game into extra time for the win.

The smog fills the hollows and gathers around the lamp posts as we head back to the border. We do not return to Hamilton again in the regular season. The fans express their frustration at losing. Losing a game against the Wolves. Losing a franchise despite the deposit of an extraordinary number of season tickets for the Predators.

We express our hope to return here again in May. And, the answer to our questions about Sterling seem satisfied. He is here to play.

Wolves out of Calder Cup finals; Bulldogs advance to face Hershey

The Chicago Wolves are out of the Calder Cup playoffs, after losing game five of the best of seven series to the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario Saturday by a score of 3-1.

The Bulldogs played the Wolves nine times combined in the regular season and the playoffs, losing just one game in the regular season and one game in the playoffs. Fred Brathwaite played a brilliant game four 1-0 shutout of the Bulldogs on Friday.

Rookie Cary Price played in each of the games in the series. Although he was shelled out of the net in the first game of the series, better defense choked the Chicago first line starting in game two, keeping the score low. The speed shown by the Bulldogs in game one was abandoned in games two through five, to concentrate on keeping the Chicago sharp shooters in line. Not only were the games low scoring following game one, the number of shots on goal declined too.

The Chicago defense too worked better in games two through five, keeping the Hamilton shots on goal down. Hamilton’s power play special units were almost nullified in the series, with Chicago going seven periods of power plays without giving a goal up. Hamilton had three 5:3 power plays in the Wednesday game, plus a five-minute major. On Friday, the night it was shut out, it had a 5:3 it couldn’t convert again. The only goal of the game was on a Chicago 5:4.



On Saturday, the Wolves had two 5:3 power play opportunities that it couldn’t convert. The short-handed, empty-net goal at the end of the game occurred while Chicago was on its own power play, 6:4. In sum, Hamilton scored three goals on 37 power plays, including five 5:3 advantages and a five-minute major for an 8.12 percent effectiveness. While the Penalty Kill was operating at 16.67 percent. A disappointing special teams effort by both the Wolves and the Bulldogs. On Friday, too, the final stat, Hamilton out shot the Wolves 37 to 14 in the 1-0 loss. The Bulldogs should be especially alarmed, heading into Calder Cup final.

Moreover, the games were close, with Hamilton ending only one game, game five, with more than a one-goal lead. That short handed empty net goal occurred during a Chicago 6:4 man advantage in the final two minutes of play, when Chicago pulled Brathwaite to attempt a final tying of the score.

Chicago may have made the series tighter. Boat loads of penalties, particularly in game three and a very questionable call by referee Steve Kozari, these things all may have led to a different result for that game. However, in the end, a seven game series is proof.

The other Calder Cup finalist is the Hershey Bears who swept the Manchester Monarchs 4-0. The Bears are in their second consecutive Calder Cup final, having defeated the Milwaukee Admirals in last year’s championship. Teams from Pennsylvania have appeared in the Calder Cup finals each year since 2004.

The exit of the Wolves leaves no former International Hockey League teams in the playoffs, that is the first time that has happened since the six IHL teams joined the American Hockey League in the 2001-2 season.

Hamilton has not appeared in the Calder Cup since 2003 when the Houston Aeros won the Cup. A Canadian team has not won the Calder Cup since Saint John beat the Wilkes Barre/ Scranton Penguins in 2001.

DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!

Looking back at the season: Michael Garnett was almost always hovering in the bottom quarter of the rankings of the league this season. Even in the playoffs, when he played his best, he wasn't up there among the best in the playoffs.

He was blessed by a high scoring offensive line in addition to having some great nights. The defense, which has also drawn the wrath of many people, did struggle. I noticed it was after the trade of Bradon Colburn that the defense found itself. Was that because Colburn's attitude, and I think it was attitude both here and in Atlanta that caused him to first be benched by the Thrashers and then traded, or was his abilty lacking?

We can debate Colburn on and on... He'll answer this question in the next season or two himself.

Fred Brathwaite held the team in line through the Manitoba trip. It was sometime after that trip he began really showing problems in the net. The game on Friday night was one of the most remarkable performances I can remember ever seeing. He was in the zone and I was so glad I went to Hamilton to witness that.

There has been alot of criticism of Assistant Coach Todd Nelson too. But, this is the best defensive group I've seen play for the Wolves in five seasons.

In sum, this season clearly demonstrates why sports is used as a metaphor for life. The problems of last season, the early success, the mid-season struggle and the struggle to hold on during the late regular season. Then, the Wolves just blossomed in a way I never would have expected.

The first series, defeating the Admirals in a sweep, was wonderful payback on a team that has had the number of this team all season. It promised a great playoff season.

It was a great playoff season. The Iowa series was a bit of a lull, though I'm not criticizing the Iowa team. It is just that emotionally, I became far more involved in the playoffs during the Milwaukee series and the Hamilton series.

I did not want to leave Hamilton for good on Friday. I wanted to come back on Saturday. That Friday night victory was very sweet, especially as it was a one goal shut out. It snapped the sweep. It was sweet to collect a discarded broom, it was in Hamilton colour, and have the team sign it.

I can tell you that just about every player wanted to break that broom. The only reason it survived is that it's handle was made of metal, not wood.

The fact is that the Hamilton fans had so much class, it is a trip I compare to the Manitoba trip with regard to the memories and friends we made here, and only adds to the season.

I come into the season demanding we aim for the Calder Cup. This year there were so many highlights to the year, from the development of rookies and the Haydar/ Krog/ Sterling line to the rehabilitation of Garnett and Brathwaite in the playoffs. I would be satisfied with the Calder. But I never expected it.

Next season promises a division filled with tough competition. For the last two seasons I've ended the season with the same call: DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!

I'll be wrapping the 2007 blog up in the next day or so. We have some great game photos from the Rockford MetroCentre of the IceHogs Colonial Cup win, the Wolves win on Friday and the final win, by Hamilton on Saturday night.

After seening the Bulldogs play six times this year, four times in the past week, I have some observations about them that the Hershey fans may find of interest too. So, while I'm not yet done for the year, I can see the end of the road.

From the Western New York State Thruway... till I have an extra three or four hours. Take care and thanks for reading.

Same place, half a life ago...

The Hamilton Bulldogs beat the Chicago Wolves 2-1 Wednesday in Hamilton, playing game three of the Western Conference finals. However, two nights later, with a 3-0 lead, the Bulldogs could not clinch game four and the Western Conference championship, being shut out by the Wolves on Friday night 1-0.

On Wednesday, Chicago took three 5:3 penalties in a second period that saw a virtual revolving door installed on the sin bin. In addition it took a five-minute major. Despite spending 17 minutes of penalties, including six penalties taken in a row, Chicago gave up only one power play goal in the second period of the Wednesday game.

However that was enough as Hamilton first tied the game, then used that power play goal to leap ahead of the Wolves and hold the lead and win.

Chicago’s offense drew first blood in the contest when Chicago used one of its six power play opportunities to out muscle the Bulldogs in front of the net and allow Jordan LaVallee to score.

However, in the second period, referee Steve Kozari began whistling a parade of Wolves players to the sin bin, starting with Brett Sterling for holding the stick at 7.47. Three 5:3 power plays, a five-minute major and six players later, the Wolves succumbed and gave Hamilton a goal.

It could be termed one of the best defensive efforts by the team this year. It could also be called very poor discipline. Hamilton is probably shocked at how badly they play on the power play.

Leading 2-1, Hamilton was able to hold on as Chicago dinged their net 13 times in the last 20 minutes of play, compared to just three shots on the Chicago goal.

The winner of the game was Carey Price, the Canadiens rookie goaltender, stopping 35 shots. Fred Brathwaite received the loss, stopping 23 shots.

On Friday night, the hero of the game was clearly Fred Brathwaite. Brathwaite stopped 37 Hamilton shots on goal for a shutout over the Bulldogs. The win kept the Wolves hopes alive for another day. In the history of the American Hockey League only two teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs to win their series. The Wolves win brings the Wolves from 3-0 to 3-1.

The two teams are the Rochester Americans in 1960, defeating the Cleveland Barons. The Adirondack Red Wings in 1989 over the Hershey Bears.

Price received the loss. A poor performing Wolves offense put just 13 shots on goal for the entire game.

Brathwaite faced his own difficult path to victory on Friday, especially during the game four second period when the team was again sent to the sin bin six consecutive times giving Hamilton a 5:3 once.

Yet, again, Hamilton proved unable to convert the 5:3 or any of the man advantages to a goal advantage.

The lack of power on the Hamilton power play, and Brathwaite’s sudden transition into a wall, gave the Wolves an important psychological boost Friday. They will not be swept and even shut out their opponents in a series marked by overtimes and one-goal games.

Brathwaite won the One Star of the night before the record crowd. It is hard to give a second star of the game to another Wolves player, as so many of them spent time in the sin bin and so few put shots on the goal. However, let’s nominate John Kernaghan.

Kernaghan is a writer at the Hamilton Spectator. His page four profile of Brathwaite, titled “Same Place, half a life ago” remembered how a 17 year-old Brathwaite, then playing in the Memorial Cup for the Oshawa Generals, won a double overtime game in that series to claim the Cup in the Copps Coliseum. And, as well, an overtime game in the Copps Coliseum earlier in the regular season to win an overtime game against the Bulldogs, the only game, until Friday, won by the Wolves against the Bulldogs this year.

The Memorial Cup tournament between the best Canadian junior teams from the three main juniors leagues starts play each Rembrance Day weekend. That was last weekend, and it concludes on our Memorial Day weekend. So the 1990 Memorial Cup was awarded nearly 17 years ago to the 17 year-old Brathwaite.

Brathwaite is a hot commodity in Canada. His Memorial Cup wins and long odds to play in the NHL as a black Canadian, make him respected here, something you see every time you visit Canada and he plays.

The Wolves face the Bulldogs again Saturday in Copps, downtown Hamiton, Ontario for game five. The Bulldogs lead the best of seven series 3-1. Any win by the Bulldogs will send the Wolves home for the remainder of the playoff season. The game starts at 7 PM local, Eastern time. Game six and seven, if necessary, will be played at the Allstate Arena Monday and Wednesday at 7 PM local, Central time.

Bulldogs take 2-0 series lead; 2nd win in OT over Wolves

The Hamilton Bulldogs are within two games of advancing to the Calder Cup finals after a 3-2 over time win over the Chicago Wolves Sunday at the Allstate Arena. An advance into the Calder Cup by the Dogs would mark the first time a former International Hockey League team had not made it to the finals since the six teams from the league joined the American Hockey League in 2001/2.

The two home losses to the Bulldogs mark just the third home loss by the Wolves since April 14th.

Hamilton got a lead on the Wolves at just 2:07 into the game when Fred Brathwaite stopped a Matt D’Agostini shot. The loose puck ricochet to Duncan Milroy who put it past Brathwaite in heavy traffic. Less than five minutes later, Hamilton enjoyed a 5:3 power play on the Chicagoans for 1:20. When they were unable to convert that, the Chicago team gathered momentum and scored its first and tying goal at 9:14 thanks to Jordan Lavallee.


In the second frame, D’Agostini scored another Hamilton lead at 2:32. Then on the penalty kill, Chicago got hold of the puck and swiftly descended on Carey Price. A determined short handed effort came up without a goal however. Then, 13:41 on its own power play, Darren Haydar was called for slashing, ending the Chicago power play.


In the final minutes of the period, Chicago again received a power play, this time a 5:3 advantage. Fireworks went off and the lights and… it was no goal. Referee Brian Pochmara claimed he whisteled the play dead before the puck passed the goal line.

Behind by one and in the clear ice of the third frame, Chicago converted its power play, finally, into a goal when Darren Haydar put the tying puck in the net. A very disappointing third frame for Chicago, only four shots on goal. Not much better for Hamilton, six shots on goal.

Overtime, again, Ryan O’Byrne puts a shot on goal, tipped by Michael Lambert for the score. Chicago recorded no shots on goal in the overtime. Fred Brathwaite received the loss, stopping 27 shots of 30. Price received the win, stopping 22 shots on 24 attempts.

Only 17 teams in the AHL have come back from a 0-2 deficit in a best of seven series to win the series. Chicago was one of the teams, however. In the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals Chicago took the series 4-3 over the Syracuse Crunch and advanced to win the Calder Cup.

The last team to successfully come back was the Manitoba Moose who defeated the Crunch in the 2006 North Division Semifinals. Wilkes Barre/ Scranton has done it three times, in 2004, 2005 and 2006.



The North Conference Finals move to Hamilton, Ontario’s Copps Coliseum for the next three games, if necessary, of the best of seven series. Game times are Wednesday at 7:30 PM local (Eastern) time, Friday at 7:30 PM local (Eastern) time and if necessary Saturday at 7 PM local (Eastern) time.

Bulldogs, Wolves battle to 2nd OT; Bulldogs win 6-5

The Hamilton Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead, lost it to be down by two and then came back to tie, forcing two overtimes before finally defeating the Chicago Wolves 6-5 at the Allstate Arena Friday night in the first game of the Western Conference finals of the Calder Cup championships. The Bulldogs have a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series.

Ajay Baines scored the first goal with less than 90 seconds on the clock of the first frame. His goal was an unassisted completion of a poke check turnover. Darren Haydar and Kyle Chipchura both scored two goals, with Dan Jancevski scoring the game winning goal. Carey Price, the 19 year-old rookie who has led the Bulldogs to the series was shelled from the net. The score rocked back and forth, with Hamilton losing the lead, tying the game, falling behind, then coming back to win.



Hamilton is a very speedy team. It used that speed to convert puck possession into the first two goals by constantly pressuring the Wolves on offense and defense. Great checks or simple poke checks were causing numerous turnovers for the Wolves who then had to race their faster opponents. It was a period of turnovers and loss of control for the Wolves marked only by Maxim LaPierre getting two of the three penalties he was registered with. It was a period when the Bulldogs stepped up to the Wolves physically drawing a fighting major on LaPierre.

With a 2-0 lead, Haydar and the first line stepped up. Halfway through the period they dented the twine to bring the score to 2-1. A key moment in the first period occurred afterwards when Chicago was given a 5:3 power play opportunity but was almost unable to move the puck out of the defensive zone.



At the end of the first period, Chicago had registered one goal on 12 shots, to two goals on eight shots for the Bulldogs.

In the second period Chicago got its act together against the Hamilton speed and shelled the rookie goalie with 12 more shots and three goals. It was enough for Hamilton coach Don Lever, who pulled Price for the first time in the playoffs, in favor of Yanis Danis at 13:00 following Cory Larose’s unassisted goal.

The period ended with Chicago up 4-2. Hamilton had only three shots on goal in the period. The Wolves put only two shots on goal, in the period on Danis, compared to 10 on Price. Two of the Chicago goals were power plays. Cory Larose’s goal was unassisted.
Coming onto the clean ice in a power play, the Bulldogs were unable to convert. In the first two periods of the game referee called 34 minutes of penalties, resulting in ten power play opportunities. Someone must have stolen referee Frederic L’Ecuyer’s whistle at the second intermission. From then to the end of the game there were only four additional power plays and eight minutes of penalties. Yet, I didn’t notice a change in the physical action or the possible rule violations.

Relaxed, with a 4-2 lead, the Wolves seemed surprised that their opponents had come to play for another period. Let’s review some of the history of the Bulldogs. A short history: On February 7, in a game at Copps Coliseum, the Bulldogs fell behind the Wolves 3-1 in the second period. In the 19th minute of play of the third period the Bulldogs came back to tie the game with two goals within 19 seconds. The Wolves had to go to overtime to win the game.

As recently as April 22, in a game at Copps against the Amerks, the Bulldogs were behind 3-1 in the second period. They scored three goals in the third frame to tie and then take the lead from the surprised Amerks.

Two days later, again at Copps, the Bulldogs gave up an early lead to trail the Americans 3-2 in the second. They came back to tie the game before the Amerks scored again to win.

At the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on May 6th the Moose lost a 2-1 lead and the game. On May 12th at Copps, the Bulldogs again fell behind 2-1 and came back to tie. And in game six of the North Division finals, the Bulldogs came back from a 2-0 deficit to end the season for the Moose.

The Wolves need to be aware that this is a team that does not give up and has late rallys.

And so it was in the third period as the Wolves let three Hamilton goals tie the game. From almost doubling up on the Bulldogs on SOG, the Bulldogs came back to have 13 shots compared to just five for the Wolves. One of the Bulldog goals was on the power play.

With the score tied, the game moved to overtime. A brief explanation is in order as the playoffs have a rule change regarding overtime. The OT in post season play is a full period, followed by additional full periods of play, until a goal is scored.

Brief comment: no goals in the first overtime. Two penalties and two power plays. The Wolves appear to be tired. During one attack on the Wolves net Michael Garnett breaks his stick turning aside a shot. Momentarily without a stick, blue liner Nathan Oystrick gives up his stick. The Wolves hold on…

That seemed to be a big momentum builder for the Wolves. But it wasn’t enough. In the second OT Brian Fahey got called for a high sticking that looks more like a hold. Just eight seconds later, Jancevski scores. Game over. 6-5 Hamilton.

Although Price was shelled from the net, he wouldn’t have received the loss as the Bulldogs were able to catch the Wolves. He played just under 33 minutes of hockey and gave up four goals on 22 shots. Danis received the win, stopping 17 shots and giving up one. Garnett gave up six goals on 39 shots.

The Wolves were able to shut down Corey Locke and LaPierre, neither of who registered a shot on goal or an assist. Locke is the highest ranked skater on the Bulldogs with 14 points and seven goals. LaPierre has six points and five goals in the post season.

On the Wolves squad, only Joey Crabb was shut down in a similar fashion.

Well matched pairs fight for shot at Calder Cup; Hamilton a second city on another lake

The Hamilton Bulldogs, Chicago Wolves, Manchester Monarchs and Hershey Bears have entered into the final four of the American Hockey League championships. The Calder Cup is just eight wins away from one of these teams. Tonight the Wolves start a best of seven series against the Bulldogs. The winner plays the Eastern Conference winner for the Calder Cup.

Hamilton, a large industrial suburb or a small industrial city, on the shore of Lake Ontario lies within the marketing reach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much like the Chicago Wolves compete against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Bulldogs compete against the marketing muscle of the Maple Leafs and the Marlies.

In addition, the city is also close to Buffalo, New York and its final four team, the Sabres.

So, if Chicago has a second city complex, and the Wolves are the fan favorites, perhaps the Bulldogs have a second city complex and are the fan favorites too? Well, not if the attendance in the playoffs is any indication. From a playoff low on Mothers Day of just 1,703, the average attendance for Bulldog playoff hockey has only averaged 2,459. In comparison, the Wolves have attracted an average of 3,671 to the playoffs.

Perhaps it’s the lack of home ice victories in the playoffs. The Bulldogs took six games to finish the Rochester Americans, taking two of the three games at home, including the final. In the series against the Manitoba Moose, the Bulldogs defeated the Moose only once at home, out of three games.

The parent club of the Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens, did not send goaltender Jaroslav Halak back to rejoin the Bulldogs at the end of the regular season. Instead, the Hamilton team has started rookie Carey Price in net every game. Price, was drafted by the Habs in the first round, fifth pick overall, in 2005. Although he only played 12 games in the regular season, he has been outstanding in goal for the Bulldogs, marking a shutout in his first game against the Amerks, and posting a 2.19 GAA for the playoffs. His GAA and his saves have actually improved during the playoffs, to 1.98 GAA and a 93.9 percent save from a 2.39 GAA and a 91.7 percent save in April.

In comparison, Michael Garnett has recorded a 2.24 GAA and a 91.9 percent save record in the post-season.

At most, Price has given up four goals in a game against the Amerks twice, posting one win. Against the Manitoba Moose he only allowed 12 goals. He is the real deal. He will probably not play in the AHL for long.

The backup goalie for the Bulldogs is Yanis Danis. Danis played only one game in the regular season against the Wolves, March 3rd. He won the game 6-3 against Fred Brathwaite, stopping 26 pucks.

The Bulldogs are sporting many of the same players, otherwise. Corey Locke, who scored twice against the Wolves in the regular season, is leading the team in points with 14 and in goals scored with seven. Fourteen other players have registered at least four points for the team. However, Ajay Baines has hurt the Wolves before with two goals and five shots. Cory Urquhart has put five shots on the Wolves goal, good for a point this year. Matt D’Agostini has put two shots on goal and received two assists. And Mikhail Grobovski has a goal, several assists and seven shots on goal.

Now the line that includes Grabovski, Duncan Milroy and D’Agostini has played hot and cold during the playoffs. The Hamilton coach said, during the Amerks series, that the line needed to step up. However, the scoring line that includes Locke has often scored with defensemen assisting, especially Mathieu Biron.

Andrei Kostitsyn was out with a groin injury. He is skating with the team and may make the series. His brother joined the team from juniors. Sergei Kostitsyn played for the London Knights of the OHL before joining the Canadiens organization. J.P Cote is out with an ankle injury and is not expected back for the series. The team has enforcer Zack Stortini playing. He had a key goal in the first game against the Americans.

The junior Habs power play has been roughly the same as the Wolves. The Bulldogs have had 58 attempts and ten goals, or 17.2 percent. The Wolves have had 65 attempts and 11 goals, 16.9 percent. Also matching up well is the penalty kill. The Bulldogs notching 84.7 percent on the PK, versus 87.5 for the Wolves. The Bulldogs were in two overtime games in the post season and won both.

The Bulldogs have allowed 27 goals against in their two divisional series, defeating their opponents by a margin of nine goals. The Wolves have allowed 22 goals against, defeating their opponents by a margin of 19 goals. Seven of the 12 post season games played by the Bulldogs have been won by one goal. Two empty net goals increase that to nine games decided in close contests. The Bulldogs took five of them. In contrast, only three of the games Chicago has played were that close. A May 3rd game with two empty net goals would add that to the total. Chicago won three of those four games.

The two teams only played four games in the regular season. Hamilton had a point in each game, winning both games in Chicago. They have never met in the post-season before. Hamilton has been to the Calder Cup finals twice before, in 1997 and in 2003. In the ten meetings between the two teams prior to this season the Wolves have won six and lost four.

Expect the Bulldogs to take a non-physical approach. The team stays out of the penalty box. They like to use speed. They have a hot goalie. Expect the series to go to six or seven games. Although it appears the Wolves have an edge, it is a thin edge depending on scoring and a stronger defense. Home ice does not appear to be an asset for the Bulldogs, with a home record of 3-3 versus an away record of 5-1. The Wolves have done well on home ice in the playoffs, with a record of 4-1 at home and 4-1 away. The Bulldogs appear to have a stronger man in the net.

Drop the puck!

Welcome Back Krog; Bulldogs double Wolves 6-3

Uggh! Another home loss for the Chicago Wolves. This time 6-3 against the North Division 2nd place team, the Hamilton Bulldogs. This makes the Wolves roughly 11-17 at home. Oh, yea, oh, yea, there have been overtime losses and shoot out losses but the operable word is losses.

With a slew of games at home to finish the season, the Wolves may be looking at a disappointing end to an exciting season.

The good news is Jason Krog is back. Why didn’t Courtney play the theme from “Welcome Back Kotter” for him on his first of two goals Saturday night? But then, I’m having a real problem with the selection of “Sweet Home Chicago” too.

Krog was the good news in an evening of hurt: two goals scored on the return of the third part of the triumvirate that dominated the Western Division through mid-December. And it was Krog, with an assist by Andy Delmore and line-mate Darren Haydar, who first drew blood. Krog played most of the past few months for the New York Rangers, having been seized off of the waiver wire by New York when Atlanta tried to send him to the Wolves.


There is a rule of thumb that players returning from the NHL take about ten games to get the NHL chip off of their shoulder. If that’s true for Krog, we are looking at an exciting month indeed. Krog’s power play goal, in the last minute of the first period, was off of a pass from Delmore. Krog buried the shot high in the net with his slap shot.

The bad news is our goalies are cold. Fred Brathwaite started the game in the pipes for Chicago. As I’ve previously discussed, he has cracked the top ten in AHL goalies during the season, but is currently a cold hand on the ice. Just 17 seconds into the second frame, Ajay Baines made a two-man breakaway on the face-off with Kyle Chipchura and sent a puck past Brathwaite with a wrister.

Less than four minutes later Hamilton scored again on Brathwaite. This time tossing the puck from side to side between Mikhail Grabovski, Matt Corey and finally Michael Lambert. It is hard to defend off such passing and no embarrassment that Brathwaite let the puck in. But, it was an indication of things to come.




















Jaime Koharski should never even be mentioned in a game summary, but his poor officiating cost the Wolves at least two goals. Darren Haydar started a slew of calls against the Wolves that cost the team two goals in the middle frame. Haydar’s high sticking drew blood and a major penalty. No problem there. Then, there was a hooking call on Colin Stuart. Probably no problem there, the man was heading for the goal, Stuart spun him around. Then, a questionable slashing call on Derek MacKenzie. The Bulldogs capitalized on this extended power play, making two goals and putting themselves up 3-1.

As these penalties ended, Kevin Doell received a questionable major for high sticking, coincidentally at the same time Bulldog Jean-Phillippe Cote received an interference call. Although the Wolves turned this power play aside, the momentum of the game moved into Hamilton’s favor. A late period goal by Chicago’s Doell put the game back into question, but the damage was done.





















In the final frame Bulldog Jonathan Ferland and then Lambert made the score 6-2. Koharski continued to show why his family has so little respect in hockey with a questionable call on Brett Sterling and an early end to a delayed penalty that was very questionable.

The final goal caused Chicago to call Brathwaite to the bench in favor of Michael Garnett. A final power play goal by Krog put the game at 6-3. Late period efforts by Chicago seemed more focused on having Krog score a hat trick then winning the game. Phillippe Sauve did an outstanding job for Hamilton in net, stopping 26 Chicago shots on goal for the win. Brathwaite received the loss with 21 saves. Garnett had 2 additional saves.

Hamilton has received a point in every game it has played against the Wolves this season. It was the second time this season Hamilton had doubled the score in a win against Chicago and the sixth time this season the team had lost by three or more goals. It was the team’s fourth loss in a row.

Krog picks up his string of points in games played at 26. During his time in the Thrashers and the Blue Shirts, he had just six points in 23 games played.

Second Place Chicago Wolves

The Chicago Wolves are in second place in the Western Division. It seems like it was an inevitability given the three games the Wolves dropped last weekend, two games to the second place Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.

It is bad mojo for the Wolves to play at home this year. They have only won 11 of their 27 games played at home, taking points in four other games. The coaches don’t know what to do about it, there have even been suggestions the team stay in hotel rooms during home stretches, to work the bad mojo out.

There are 13 more games to go at home and just six on the road, till the end of the season. No one is talking about the Wolves not making the playoffs, with 77 points they are almost a lock for the post-season right now.

Tonight the Wolves play the Hamilton Bulldogs. (Good seats are still available) A third-place team in the North Division and a possible post-season opponent in the third round. That’ll be a tough game. The Bulldogs won their previous visit to Chicago this season. The Wolves won two overtime games played in Hamilton. So, in other words, the Bulldogs have won a point in every contest they’ve played against the Wolves this season.

Tomorrow San Antonio plays the Wolves. I doubted the Gretzky magic extended to the Rampage last year and earlier this year I expressed the view that Pat Conacher is not up to the task of minor league management. The facts are that the Rampage have dropped six games to the Wolves, one in overtime, with only one win to their credit, this season.

The Rampage have traditionally made their golf reservations at this point in the season, and I don’t see a reason for that to change. They are the doormat of the Western Division… Well, not so fast. The Wolves underestimated SAR the last time they played them, on February 23. And, take a look at the standings and you'll see that SAR has not only climbed out of the basement with the other cellar dwellers like the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators, but are above the Houston Aeros in the standings. That hasn't happened in years.

The fact is that over the last ten games, the SAR have the same win/lose record as the Wolves, granted the Wolves lost two games after regulation. Add considering the bad mojo that is happening to the Wolves at the Allstate Arena and Chicago could easily drop that game.

Wear your away sweaters fellas and book a hotel room 'cause there isn't an easy win left in the West Division any more

Wolves score 3 to tie in 3rd; Hamilton game winner in OT

Five Wolves registered goals on the Hamilton Bulldogs Friday, coming from a three goal deficit to tie the game. But the Hamilton Bulldogs pulled the game out with an overtime win.

The Copps Colliseum game was a penalty laden festival of scoring. Cory Larose got the Wolves on the scoreboard first with a pass from behind the net to Brett Sterling who sliced the puck high into the net. The second place North division Bulldogs answered 38 seconds later when Jean-Phillippe Cote passed Wolves blue liner Brian Sipotz and fired a wrister to score on Wolves goalie Michael Garnett. Late in the period, the Bulldogs were given a five on three power play. Matt D’Agostini had a rebound goal on Garnett. Then, just 39 seconds later, in the next period, D’Agostini had another goal on Garnett, this time through his five hole.

D’Agostini missed the franchise record for two fastest goals by just four seconds.

A second frame fight between Jordan LaVallee and Bulldog Dan Jancevski marked the energy of the game. The mid-frame goal by Andrei Kostitsyn put the Hamilton team up 4-1. Late in the period the Wolves scored a short handed goal by Derek MacKenzie, which cut the lead to just two goals.

MacKenzie currently leads the American Hockey League with five short handed goals. Four skaters share second with four goals each, including Kevin Doell.

An early power play goal in the third period seemed to end the Wolves chances. Kostitsyn earned his second goal of the night on a passing play that out foxed Garnett. Andy Delmore began the Wolves surge with his first Wolves goal, a power play notch at 5.32. Colin Stuart put the Wolves within one at 7.33. Then Alex Bourret tied the game five-all with a goal from a backdoor pass at 17.16.

Stuart received a minor penalty in the overtime, but the Wolves held the Bulldogs off through the power play only to lose the game with 14 seconds on the clock. Duncan Milroy made a wrap around attempt on Garnett, which Cory Locke picked up and fired high into the corner.

The Bulldogs were three for seven on the power play, while the Wolves were one for ten. Garnett stopped 23 shots, including seven in the extra period, for the loss. Bulldog goalie Yann Danis earned the win, stopping 25 Chicago shots on goal.

The Wolves conclude the Canadian tour with a game Saturday in Toronto versus the Marlies before returning to Chicago for one game against the Syracuse Crunch. The Wolves then start a three game Texas road trip next weekend.

Last minute Bulldogs goals force overtime. Wolves pull it out 4-3

A last minute come from behind effort sent the Chicago Wolves into overtime against the Hamilton Bulldogs Wednesday at the Copps Coliseum. But the Wolves hung on to win the game 4-3.

Led by Fred Brathwaite in goal, the Wolves and the Bulldogs had a quiet first frame, marked by just two minor penalties. Brathwaite stopped seven shots on goal in the period. With less than three minutes remaining in the period Brett Sterling captured a turnover in the Bulldogs defensive zone. Sterling’s shot was wide, but Steve Martins shoveled the puck into a wide open net giving the Wolves a 1-0 lead. Jaroslav Halak, who leads the list of American Hockey League goalies stopped eight Wolves shots in the first frame.

A more active second frame provided Martins his second goal of the night on a power play. A shot by Cory Larose from the slot deflected off of Sterling to Martins who scored. Hamilton blue liner Danny Groulx shot a wrister at Brathwaite three minutes later. It was deflected in by Jonathan Ferland through Brathwaite’s five hole.

Nathan Oystrick returned the Wolves to a two goal lead with only 38 seconds remaining in the period. Stripping the puck from the Bulldogs at the redline, Oystick’s slap shot scored. Brathwaite stopped ten Bulldogs shots while Halak stopped six Wolves shots in the period.

A quiet third frame seemed to spell the end of the Bulldogs. Three minor penalties, and 12 Wolves shots on goal was the story for people leaving up to the nineteen minute and 37 second mark. Then, the Bulldogs scored twice in 23 seconds, the last goal occurring with just four seconds left to play, putting the game into over time. Andrei Kostitysn, who fired a bullet from the circle to score through Brathwaite’s five hole, scored the first of the goals. Then, Kyle Chipchura was working the boards. He lost and then regained the puck. He passed the puck to Mathieu Biron who fired at Brathwaite. Ferland then deflected the puck past Brathwaite to score.

In the overtime, Brian Fahey’s shot was deflected for the game winning goal by Mark Popovic. Brathwaite stopped four Bulldog shots in the overtime period. His win, the 17th this season, leaves him among the top ten active goalies in the league. Brathwaite stopped a total of 30 Bulldog shots. The Wolves were one in six on the power play.

The Bulldogs, a possible post-season opponent of the Wolves, stopped 27 shots on goal for Halak’s loss. They were one for five on the power play. The Wolves play Hamilton again on Friday night before ending the Canadian road trip with a game against the Toronto Marlies on Saturday.