Bulldogs bounce back from tough loss to beat Manitoba
~Sergei Kostitsyn is chosen as first star.
By Garry McKay
Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton Bulldogs rebounded from one of their toughest losses of the year to beat the Manitoba Moose 5-1 on Saturday night.
The solid performance, against the AHL’s top team, came just 24 hours after the Dogs had a heartbreaking loss when they scored twice in the final minutes to tie Manitoba and then saw the Moose score the winner with nine seconds left.
“We told the guys it was like a mini playoff series and if you lose one you have to rebound,” said Ron Wilson who picked up his first win as the Dogs interim head coach.
“I think the guys showed a lot of character in how they came back. We played a really strong first 10 minutes and really came after them. Everybody played hard.”
The teams were tied 1-1 after one and the Dogs scored two unanswered goals in both the second and third periods.
The five goals on Cory Schneider are the most the AHL’s top goaltender has given up in a game this year.
Mike Glumac scored twice and Sergei Kostitsyn had a goal and two assists to lead the Dogs.
“You never know how you’re going to respond after a tough loss like that,” said Glumac. “It was a tough way to lose and we could have reacted the other way but we came out strong and got the two points against the top team in the division.”
Ryan Russell and J.T. Wyman were the other Bulldogs marksmen.
Mike Keane was the only Manitoba player to beat Hamilton goaltender Marc Denis who snapped his own personal four-game losing streak.
The Bulldogs snapped Manitoba’s six-game winning streak and their own two-game losing skid.
They play their next five games and seven of their next eight on the road beginning Sunday at 6 p.m. in Rochester.
The Dogs aren’t at home again until Tuesday, March 24 when they host San Antonio.
Hits and Misses
Molson Cup Three Stars: 1. Sergei Kostitsyn, Hamilton. 2. Mike Glumac, Hamilton. 3. Marc Denis, Hamilton.
Flamboro Downs Workhorse of the Game (hardest working Bulldog): Kyle Chipchura
Scratches: Mark Van Guilder, Steve Gainey, Tyler Shelast, Ryan Kinasewich, Shawn Belle, Ryan Flinn, Mathieu Carle.
Shots on goal: Hamilton 31 Manitoba 31.
Attendance: 4,510.
Up next: The Dogs are on Rochester Sunday at 6 p.m.