The Hamilton Bulldogs are headed to the Calder Cup Final for the first time since 2003, wrapping up the Western Conference championship by defeating the Chicago Wolves, 3-1, at Copps Coliseum on Saturday night.
Danny Groulx had a goal and an assist and Carey Price stopped 32 of 33 shots as the Bulldogs captured the third conference crown in the team’s 11 seasons.
Mikhail Grabovski scored early in the second period to give Hamilton a 2-0 lead, and Kyle Chipchura iced the victory with a shorthanded empty-net goal with 61 seconds left in regulation.
Trevor Byrne had the lone goal for the Wolves, whose league-leading offense was held to five goals over the last four games of the series.
The Bulldogs have never won the Calder Cup. They were runners-up to Hershey in 1997 and to Houston in 2003.
Western Conference Final – Series "N" (best-of-7)
W2-Chicago Wolves vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., May 18 –
Game 2 – Sun., May 20 –
Game 3 – Wed., May 23 –
Game 4 – Fri., May 25 –
Game 5 – Sat., May 26 – HAMILTON 3,
