Stephen Harper extended his point-streak to 11 games as the Hamilton Bulldogs split a pair of weekend road games.
Blake Speers’ power-play goal at 16:51 of the second period proved to be the winner as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 on Saturday night.
Harper, who had recorded a point in each game coming in, opened the scoring for Hamilton at 11:24 of the first period. After stealing the puck at the Greyhounds’ blue-line, Harper skated in all alone on Brandon Halverson and made no mistake in extending his point-streak to 10 games.
The ‘Hounds tied it at one less than a minute later as Boris Katchouk, who injured Bulldogs captain Justin Lemcke in the first meeting, netted his fifth of the season unassisted at 12:04.
Makar Tokarev gave the Soo a 2-1 lead when his one-timer from the faceoff circle beat Charlie Graham at 15:33 during a power play. Colton White and Gustav Bouramman picked up the assists on the play.
Harper brought the Bulldogs to within 3-2 after deflecting a Jake Bricknell shot past Halverson at 9:36 of the third period for his second of the game and eighth of the season.
That’s as close as the Bulldogs would get, despite outshooting the Greyhounds 35-27.
Sunday night produced a rebound as Hamilton scored four third period goals, coming back to defeat the Sudbury Wolves 6-3.
With Sudbury leading 3-2 late in the third period, Ben Gleason tied the game by blasting a slapshot past Matthew Menna at 15:19.
The game seemed destined to head to overtime but Niki Petti found some space in front of the Sudbury net and put the Bulldogs ahead 4-3 at 18:28. Adam Laishram and Michael Cramarossa picked up assists on the play.
Maurizio Colella scored empty-net goals at 18:57 and 19:32 to seal the victory for Hamilton. Harper picked up an assist on Colella’s second goal, extending his point-streak to 11 games.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the game when Cole Candella wristed a hard shot past Menna at 11:31 of the first period.
Sudbury tied it 1-1 on a power play when defenceman Conor Cummins floated a point-shot through traffic and beat a screened Connor Hicks at 16:33.
Just over two minutes later, the Wolves scored an identical goal to put them ahead 2-1. This time it was Kyle Capobianco cashing in for a power play marker of his own.
Mackenzie Entwistle tied it at two for Hamilton with his first OHL goal. With the Bulldogs killing a penalty, Petti found Entwistle in the slot and he buried one past Menna at 13:33 of the second.
Matt Schmalz gave Sudbury a 3-2 lead heading to the third as he chipped the puck over Hicks’ shoulder at 17:02.
Hamilton went 0-for-5 on the power play while Sudbury cashed in on two of its six opportunities.
After tonight’s @BulldogsOHL win I got a few thoughts from Coach Burnett https://t.co/i9jaVvUrtH
— Matt Holmes (@dogsradio) October 26, 2015
The Bulldogs next see action at home on Wednesday when they take on the defending Memorial Cup Champion Oshawa Generals at 7 p.m.