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The Hamilton Bulldogs sit in a tie for first place in the North Division with the Toronto Marlies after a triple-header this past weekend. Hamilton started off their weekend Friday night at home with a win over the Americans, in overtime before heading to Utica
and then back more in Hamilton Sunday afternoon for another all-Ontario matchup against the Marlies.

Friday (4-3 OT win over Rochester)

Robert Mayer picked up his first win of the season in overtime after Louis Leblanc put in his second game-winning goal of the season. Nick Tarnasky put Hamilton on the board in the first with the lone goal of the period. Hamilton would bring their lead to two with a goal from Leblanc early in the second period. The Americans weren’t able to answer until just over five minutes later on the power play when Luke Adam shot one past Mayer. Magnus Nygren would come back with a laser to bring their lead back to two. With back-to-back goals from Americans’
Frederick Roy and Brayden McNabb the second period would end in a tie.

With a scoreless third period, the Dogs went into overtime for their second
straight game. Although Hamilton started off the extra time on the man advantage they were unable to capitalize. Leblanc
potted the winner shortly after the powerplay expired, just over a minute into extra time to earn the Bulldogs their 4-3 win.

Stars of the Game

1st- Louis Leblanc
2nd – Magnus Nygren
3rd – Nick Tarnasky

Highlights:

Saturday (3-2 win vs Utica)

On Saturday night in Utica, the Bulldogs came out scoring early as five
minutes into the first Maxime Macenauer scored his first of the year, with Akim Aliu and Martin St. Pierre,
who recently returned from a lower body injury, picking up the assists. In the second they went on to put in another two goals
from Leblanc and Aliu for a three goal lead heading into the final frame. Although the Bulldogs had a strong first two periods the
Comets weren’t going to stop fighting as they attempted a third period comeback.

Peter Andersson put in the first for the Comets to get them on the board just over three minutes in. At 15:27 Colin Stuart would find the back of the net, for their second of the night
to cut Hamilton’s lead to one.
The Bulldogs were able to hold off the Comets for the rest of the period to take home a 3-2 win. Dustin Tokarski
got the start in net for the Dogs and added another win to his record for the 2013 season after making 31 stops.

The powerplay was a concern in this one as the Bulldogs went 0/6 with the man
advantage.  Their penalty kill killed off both of Utica’s opportunities
though.

Game Stars:

1st- Dustin Tokarski
2nd- Akim Aliu
3rd – Benn Ferriero

Sunday (3-2 loss to Toronto)

Sunday afternoon would be the second of twelve all-Ontario matchups between the Bulldogs and Marlies. The Bulldogs dropped the first game in Toronto… and after an action packed weekend they weren’t able to
pick up a win in this one either. Toronto opened up the scoring with a goal from Jerred
Smithson at just 24 seconds in and the Marlies added another before the halfway
point of the period to give them a two goal edge heading into the second where
neither team was able to score.

Hamilton was unable to put in anything until late in the third period when Nick Tarnasky
beat former Bulldog Drew MacIntyre for his fifth of the season. Although Tarnasky was able to cut the deficit to one, Toronto wasn’t giving up the edge as Jerry D’Amigo would answer with a goal of his own shortly after
into the empty net. Greg Pateryn connected with both St. Pierre and Sven Andrighetto to put in his third of the season, and cut the deficit back down to just one goal
in the dying seconds but that was close at they got.  Mayer made 23 saves
in loss, ending the Bulldogs’ weekend with a 2-1 record.

Stars of the Game:

1st – Drew MacIntryre
2nd- Greg McKegg
3rd – Sven Andrighetto

Highlights:

Hamilton’s next home game will take place on Friday, November 1st when the Marlies are back in town for the second time this season, and
the third Battle of Ontario matchup.  The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm at Copps
Coliseum and will once again be a fight for the first place in the North Division.