Joonas Nattinen and Aaron Palushaj scored goals 34 seconds apart as the Hamilton Bulldogs broke a 3-3 tie and skated to a 6-3 win over the Toronto Marlies before a crowd of 8,034 at Copps Coliseum Friday night.  The win snapped a three game Bulldogs losing streak in which they had totaled just two goals

The story of this game was the play of Russian forward Alexander Avtsin who had a goal and assist.  The highly skilled but under-achieving Russian had been a healthy scratch through the season’s first eleven games because of his tentative play.  Finally given the chance after the injury to Blake Geoffrion, Avtsin was the Bulldogs best forward and earned another look Saturday afternoon when the Bulldogs play at Toronto.

With two goals Brendan Gallagher also had a good night.  His second goal was an empty-netter.  He shared the team-high in shots-on-goal with Avtsin at four.  The rookie Gallagher now leds the Bulldogs in goals (5) and points (8) in 12 games.

The other Hamilton goal was scored by Morgan Ellis, his first as a professional.

Jarred Tinordi for the first time this season appeared be in a comfort zone making confident plays before defensively and offensively.  College graduate Steve Quailer also had another good night.

Matt Frattin scored twice for Toronto.  Gerry D’Amigo got the other.  (Box Score and Bulldogs season scoring stats below)

Along with Avtsin and Gallagher, Michael Bournival, Aaron Palushaj plus defencemen Joe Stejskal, Frederic St. Denis and Morgan Ellis had two point games.

Cedrick Desjardins returned from a training camp groin injury to make his first start of the season stopping 23 of 26 shots.  The Bulldogs outshot the Marlies 29-26 including 11-5 in the third period.

The teams will meet again at 3.00 Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.  From there the Bulldogs head to St. John’s Newfoundland for games Tuesday and Wednesday.

Notes:

…….Louis Leblanc is practicing with the Bulldogs and the team is hoping he will be available to play at St. John’s on Tuesday.

…….Desjardins and Avtsin all played their first game of the season.

.,…..The crowd of 8,034 moved the Bulldogs into second in the AHL behind Hersey in average attendance.  The Bulldogs total helped by the 18-thousand plus at the Bell Centrelast Friday.

…….Scratches – C- Blake Geoffrion (skull fracture); RW-Louis Leblanc (High ankle sprain); D-Greg Pateryn (elbow fracture).   D-Brendon Nash, F-Kyle Hagel plus goaltenders Peter Delmas and Soctt Darling all healthy,

Toronto Marlies 3 at Hamilton Bulldogs 6
Friday, November 16, 2012 – Copps Coliseum

Toronto 1 1 1 – 3
Hamilton 3 0 3 – 6

1st Period-

1, Toronto, Frattin 1 (Abbott, Kostka), 8:53 (PP).

2, Hamilton, Ellis 1 (St-Denis, Palushaj), 12:08.

3, Hamilton, Avtsin 1 (Boyce, Stejskal), 16:21.

4, Hamilton, Gallagher 4 (Bournival, St-Denis), 19:27 (PP).

Penalties-Desjardins Ham (roughing), 6:14; Tinordi Ham (hooking), 7:19; Hamilton Tor (kneeing), 19:08.

2nd Period-

5, Toronto, Frattin 2 (Kadri, Fraser), 12:23.

Penalties-Dumont Ham (holding), 0:21; Berger Ham (tripping), 3:51; Colborne Tor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:37; Beaulieu Ham (hooking), 14:28; Gysbers Tor (interference), 19:40; Beaulieu Ham (slashing), 20:00.

3rd Period-

6, Toronto, D’Amigo 2 (Gysbers, Kadri), 6:28.

7, Hamilton, Nattinen 2 (Avtsin, Boyce), 10:05.

8, Hamilton, Palushaj 4 (Ellis, Bournival), 10:39.

9, Hamilton, Gallagher 5 (Dumont, Stejskal), 18:20 (EN).

Penalties-Kostka Tor (holding), 11:51.

Shots on Goal-Toronto 9-12-5-26. Hamilton 14-4-11-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Toronto 1 / 6; Hamilton 1 / 4.
Goalies-Toronto, Scrivens 3-3-0 (28 shots-23 saves). Hamilton, Desjardins 0-0-0 (26 shots-23 saves).
A-8,034
Referees-Trent Knorr (44).
Linesmen-Jason Finley (6), Ryan Lachine (83).

Hamilton Bulldogs 2012-13 Individual Stats

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