Top-ranked Hamilton Bulldogs primed for playoff success
Recent off establishing a single-season franchise file with 51 wins and 107 factors, the Hamilton Bulldogs open what many hockey pundits imagine may very well be a prolonged playoff run Thursday evening.
The Bulldogs, who additionally claimed the No. 1 spot within the CHL rankings for the primary time in 2022, host the Peterborough Petes within the opening sport of their best-of-7 Ontario Hockey League playoff sequence.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at FirstOntario Centre.
Learn extra:
Hamilton Bulldogs high CHL standings, breaking earlier franchise file in wins
Hamilton head coach Jay McKee says cracking the 50-win plateau was nice, however it doesn’t imply a lot presently of the yr.
“Every little thing is reset right here if you get to the playoffs,” mentioned McKee. “The gamers took a whole lot of delight in the way in which that they labored over the season and the totally different accomplishments that had been made however these issues are all awash now and we begin season two.”
The Bulldogs (51-12-3-2) are driving an OHL-best 10-game profitable streak into Thursday’s contest with two of these victories coming in opposition to the eighth place Petes (29-33-5-1).
Regardless of profitable six of their eight conferences this season in opposition to Peterborough, McKee says they won’t take their opponents flippantly.
“It’s going to be a grind. We’re up in opposition to an excellent hockey membership in Peterborough, a staff that we should be on high of our sport as a way to beat and that’s the place the main focus is true now.”
Hamilton outscored the Petes 47-26 of their eight-game season sequence together with two outings wherein the Canine scored 10 targets.
Learn extra:
Ontario Hockey League Western Convention first spherical playoff preview
Bulldogs’ ahead Logan Morrison turned simply the second participant in staff historical past to succeed in the 100-point plateau with 34 targets and 66 assists and completed sixth in league scoring.
Defenceman Nathan Staios led all OHL blueliners with 66 factors (15 targets, 51 assists) whereas goalie Marco Costantini established the staff file with an OHL-leading 2.32 goals-against common and .917 save share. Costantini additionally compiled a league greatest six shutouts.
The Bulldogs are the favourites to characterize the Ontario Hockey League on the Memorial Cup championship event from June 20-29 in Saint John, New Brunswick.
OHL playoffs, first-round sequence
Hamilton vs. Peterborough
Recreation 1, Thurs., April 21 at Hamilton, 7:00
Recreation 2, Mon., April 25 at Hamilton 7:00
Recreation 3, Wed., April 27 at Peterborough 7:00
Recreation 4, Thurs., April 28 at Peterborough 7:00
Recreation 5, Sat., April 30 at Hamilton 7:00 *
Recreation 6, Mon., Could 2 at Peterborough 7:00 *
Recreation 7, Wed., Could 4 at Hamilton 7:00 *
*if essential
Head-to-head (2021-22 season)
Oct. 28 in Peterborough – Petes 4, Bulldogs 3
Nov. 12 in Hamilton – Bulldogs 4, Petes 2
Nov. 18 in Peterborough – Bulldogs 10, Petes 6
Dec. 17 in Hamilton – Bulldogs 10, Petes 5
Feb. 6 in Hamilton – Bulldogs 7, Petes 3
Mar. 15 in Peterborough – Petes 3, Bulldogs 1
Mar. 29 in Peterborough – Bulldogs 6, Petes 2
Apr. 3 in Hamilton – Bulldogs 6, Petes 1
