HERSHEY, Pa. (caldercup.com) … The Hamilton Bulldogs continued their dominance on foreign ice, scoring two power-play goals early in the second period and riding Carey Price’s 46-save performance to a 4-0 win over the Hershey Bears in Game 1 of the 2007 Calder Cup Finals on Friday night.
Price (12-5) made 16 saves in the first period, 10 in the second and 20 more in the third – including six during a two-minute 5-on-3 Hershey power play – for his second shutout of the postseason.
Matt D’Agostini and Mikhail Grabovski broke a scoreless tie with goals in the first four minutes of the middle frame to give the Bulldogs all the offense they would need.
Corey Locke added two goals, including a highlight-reel end-to-end rush at the 11:35 mark of the second to make it 3-0. Locke is tied for the league lead with 10 goals this postseason.
The Bulldogs finished the night 3-for-7 on the power play. Hershey had allowed two goals on 28 chances in its four-game sweep of Manchester in the conference finals.
The Bulldogs have allowed a total of five goals in their last five games, with Price stopping 148 of 153 shots in that span (.967).
Hamilton has won seven straight road games, two shy of the all-time AHL playoff record, and improved to 4-0 in Game 1’s this postseason – all away from home.
Attendance at the Giant Center for the opener was 10,257. Game 2 of the best-of-seven championship series is Saturday night in Hershey.
2007 Calder Cup Final – Series "O" (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., June 1 – Hamilton 4, HERSHEY 0
Game 2 – Sat., June 2 – Hamilton at Hershey, 7:00
Game 3 – Mon., June 4 – Hershey at Hamilton, 7:30
Game 4 – Wed., June 6 – Hershey at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 5 – Thu., June 7 – Hershey at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 6 – Tue., June 12 – Hamilton at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Fri., June 15 – Hamilton at Hershey, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
