Carey Price stopped 24 shots as Hamilton opened the North Division Finals with a 2-1 win over Manitoba at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Saturday.
The teams go right back at it in Game 2 on Sunday night.
Price made eight saves in each period to improve his record to 5-2 this postseason. The 19-year-old netminder lost his bid for his second shutout when Lee Goren scored with 24.2 seconds left in regulation.
Ajay Baines scored during a 4-on-4 with 6:55 gone in the second period, and Andre Benoit buried his first playoff goal with 5:08 left in regulation to provide the offense for the Bulldogs.
Hamilton was 1-for-6 on the power play; Manitoba was 0-for-6.
North Division Final – Series "K" (best-of-7)
N1-Manitoba Moose vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs || Preview
Game 1 – Sat., May 5 – Hamilton 2, MANITOBA 1
Game 2 – Sun., May 6 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
Game 3 – Tue., May 8 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:30
Game 4 – Sat., May 12 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sun., May 13 – Manitoba at Hamilton, 3:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 14 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
*Game 7 – Wed., May 16 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 8:30
*if necessary
All times Eastern