‘Dogs eliminate Moose with OT win

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HAMILTON 3, MANITOBA 2 (OT)
Hamilton advanced to the North Division Finals on Sunday night with a 3-2 overtime win over Manitoba in Game 6 of their opening-round series. Grant Stevenson tallied the series-clinching victory for the Bulldogs at 8:49 of the first extra session, with Ryan Russell and Mike Glumac earning the assists.

It marked Stevenson’s third career Calder Cup Playoff goal and his first since Apr. 27, 2007, when he was a member of the Worcester Sharks.

Yan Stastny and Peter Olvecky netted goals for the Moose, who built leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first and second periods, respectively, before watching Hamilton battle back on both occasions.

The Bulldogs registered a pair of power play goals in regulation, as David Desharnais scored with less than two minutes to play in the first period, and Ryan White buried one at 15:26 of the second frame. AHL All-Rookie defenseman P.K. Subban assisted on both markers.

Bulldogs goaltender Cedrick Desjardins stopped 25 of 27 shots in the winning effort, while Moose counterpart Cory Schneider took the loss despite making 46 saves on the night.

Manitoba, which finished fourth in the division during the regular season, suffered a first-round elimination one year after reaching the Calder Cup Finals. The Moose are now 0-9 in their last nine playoff overtimes, dating back to a first-round series vs. Syracuse in 2008.

Hamilton awaits the winner of the other North Division semifinal, where Rochester will host Abbotsford in Game 7 on Tuesday.