Eric Manlow played the hero for Hamilton by capping a third-period comeback and scoring 5:31 into the first overtime session to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win over Manitoba at the MTS Centre on Monday.
With the win, Hamilton takes the series 4 games to 2 over the Moose and heads the Western Conference Finals to face the Chicago Wolves.
Facing a 2-0 deficit entering the third period, Corey Locke tallied on the man advantage just past the midway point of the period, to cut the lead in half for Hamilton.
Manlow scored the equalizer on an assist by Michael Lambert at 13:58 to send the contest into overtime, where he and the Bulldogs ended the Moose’s season.
Carey Price turned in a solid performance in net, stopping 40 of 42 shots to improve his mark to 8-4 in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Brandon Reid and Brad Moran both tallied in the loss for Manitoba. The Bulldogs will travel to Chicago for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, which begin on Friday, May 19.
Western Conference Final – Series “N” (best-of-7)
W2-Chicago Wolves vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs
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 –
*Game 6 – Mon., May 28 –
*Game 7 – Wed., May 30 –
All times Eastern
*if necessary
