HAMILTON 4, MANITOBA 1
Forward J.T. Wyman tallied one of Hamilton’s three second-period goals as the Bulldogs used a 13-4 shots advantage in the period to take control of the game and earn a 4-1 win over visiting Manitoba in Game 1 of the North Division Finals on Thursday.
The teams combined for 26 shots through the first 20 minutes and headed into intermission in a 1-1 deadlock, with goals traded by Manitoba’s Alexandre Bolduc (5:10) and Hamilton’s Ryan Russell (9:27).
Aaron Palushaj put the Bulldogs on top for good with a power play goal at 13:34 of the second period; Nigel Dawes added another man-advantage marker less than three minutes later; and Wyman capped the flurry with a shorthanded strike at the 18:59 mark, his second goal of the postseason.
Neither side scored in the third period, while Hamilton held the Moose to just nine shots in the second and third frames combined after surrendering 11 in the opening stanza.
Bulldogs goaltender Drew MacIntyre picked up the victory with 19 saves in net and has now stopped 63 of 65 shots (.969) during his current three-game winning streak.
The teams have two days off before resuming the series with Game 2 at Copps Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
North Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
N1-Hamilton Bulldogs vs. N3-Manitoba Moose
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 28 – HAMILTON 4, Manitoba 1
Game 2 – Sun., May 1 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 4:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 3 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
Game 4 – Wed., May 4 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
*Game 5 – Fri., May 6 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
*Game 6 – Sun., May 8 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 7 – Mon., May 9 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:30
