Oct. 22 - Toronto Marlies Edge Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3

Jeremy Williams found his scoring touch tonight in the Marlies 4-3 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. His overtime winner came with 46.1 seconds before the threat of Gary Bettman's fan favourite, the shootout would have gone into effect. Kris Newbury and Tim Stapleton assisted.

Williams scored his first goal of the season at 11:20 of the third period, tying the game at 3-3. All three of Toronto's regulation goals were power play markers, something the team had spent extra time practicing. "Tonight we really worked together. Both (power play)units played well," said Williams. That was the difference in the game." During the first 20 minutes Toronto appeared to have bounced back from a 7-3 thrashing by Grand Rapids on Sunday, leading Hamilton 2-0. They put up a spirited effort against the unbeaten Bulldogs. Boyd Devereaux and Brent Aubin agitated the Bulldogs defense, drawing Matt D'Agostini into a penalty. On the resulting power play Andre Deveaux scored on a blistering blueline shot from Brent Aubin. 12 seconds into Bulldog Greg Stewart's hooking penalty Mark Bell's shot bounced from Desjardins' blocker into the net behind him. With under two minutes left in the period Staffan Kronvall was given a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing.

Hamilton's Yanick Lehoux potted the only goal of the second period, a short-handed marker at 7:55. This one had some controversy. The Bulldogs crashed the net and it slipped from its moorings, but the goal stood. It was ruled in the net before it became dislodged. Pogge was visibly upset, banging his stick on the ice as he removed the offending puck from his net.

Pogge's goaltending was the story in the final few minutes of the period. With 3:12 left in the second Pogge made a spectacular save snagging the puck in mid air. Two minutes later with the puck perilously close to the sneaking in through the left side Pogge got enough of his foot on it to keep the score at 2-1 heading into the third.

With just under 7:00 remaining in the third period the Bulldogs evened the score 2-2. Chad Anderson's shot got past a kneeling Justin Pogge.

Yanick Lehoux had a hat trick, scoring all of Hamilton's goals.

Tidbit - The last time Toronto scored three power play goals in a game was March 29th, 2008 at Ricoh against the Manitoba Moose.

Read More......

Carey Price Bobblehead Night

Tonight's Hamilton Bulldogs game versus the Iowa Stars is Carey Price Bobblehead night. I suppose it would have been more climactic if Price was actually playing, but he's too busy saving the Canadiens right now. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend as I'll be writing a mid-term but I did manage to get a picture of the bobbleheads they'll be giving away.



Well, they tried I guess. It doesn't actually look like it has much bobble in it though.



My favourite bobbleheads are the ones the Toronto Raptors give away though. They're action shots!

^{X-Posted to Scarlett Ice}

Read More......

For Sale By Owner

The Montreal Canadiens have a number of UFA's this year, and there is one piece of the puzzle that we all know they aren't going to be able to resign.

We all know that I have some MAD LUV for Sheldon. He's a Hottie McHottie, and if I were any GM in the league I would want him on my team. He's defensively strong and he's got the wicked shot on the PP.

That said, I would love to see the Habs break the bank to keep him around another year or two, but I don't think that what the Habs McDreamy wants. I would assume, since he's back with the wifey (who I shall refrain commenting on as it would likely break the HLOG rules), and she's an "actress" (and I use the term losely) so I wouldn't doubt that he will try to head to Socal.

My inner Ducklings groupie thinks that it would be HOT to have Souray on the Ducks, but I'd rather that Burkie resigned Jiggy. I mean, what's cheering for the Ducks without dancing to "Getting Jiggy with It"?

Janne Niinimaa another blue liner for the Habs is more blah then anything else. Seriously. He was -13 in like 42 games this year. I could totally care less. Especially since he only made up for it with 3 points. TAKE HIM AWAY. We don't WANT HIM.

Have I mention lately that I love Radek Bonk? Because I do. He may have only scored 23 points this year, but he was one of the top players on the team in plus/minus (with a 0, but hey, on team with as pathetic as the Habs in +/-) and I want him kept. In fact, I may even have to throw a temper tantrum if they don't resign him.

Mike Johnson is a strong defensive forward, who was +6 on the season. I am all for keeping him, I mean, really we need guys who can score and keep the puck out of our net. Plus he's a healthy type of guy - he played 80 games for the Habs this season. If we want to get back to playoffs we need guys like him.

Honestly? I love Abby. David Aebischer has proven that he can play (and a hell of a lot better then Theo - who is the hott sexx) so I have to show him some MAD LUV because the Habs CLEARLY won the Theo trade. That said, if Carey Price can continue to grow as quickly as he has (I mean, seriously, Baby Sexy (and yes that is his official nickname according to MOI) has gone from the Dub (gotta love derty dub boys) to the WJCH, to the Dub, to a CALDER FREAKING CUP) then we really have no need for Abby with Jaroslav Halak and Christobal "Hip Hip" Huet locked up.

Who knows? Maybe the Avs will try to resign him....

Last, but certainly not least is Aaron Downey. Can't lie. Not really attached to a 33-year-old who only played 22 games this season. I mean, he played decently, but its all kind of MEH to me. Nothing HOTT about it. If anything, I think the Habs need to look at the Calder Cup Champion Bulldogs.

Speaking of the Bulldogs...

At least they know the importance of keeping hydrated after a very, very, very, very, very long night of drinking.

Look at the number of water bottles the boys have.

If they'd have been SMART (and I mean S-M-A-R-T not S-A-M-R-T) they would have been drinking Gatorade and vodka after the victory.

Then again, no one can count on hockey players being smart.

Corey Locke.

Le Sigh.

I have nothing else to say about him.

Well except that he looks highly hungover.

Good for you honey.

And then, last but certainly NOT least...

Is another boy named Cory of course....

Not that any of you should be surprised by that....

I bet that this was Cory's favourite part....

Either way, way to go Dogs!

Lets just hope that most of the boys on the Dogs that were a big part of this victory are P-R-O-P-E-R-T-Y of the Habs.

That way, they can be a big part of the Habs Stanley Cup run next year....

(Oh yeah and I am I the only one who finds my MAD LUV of all hockey players named Cor(e)y rather amusing?)

Read More......

AHL Finals: Bulldogs 4, Bears 0

The Hamilton Bulldogs won game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals tonight against the Hershey Bears.

Carey Price got the shutout. A 46-save shut-out. In his rookie year.
Yowza.

Now if only a certain other team could have such a sparkling performance in their finals series. Wouldn't that be grand?

So who's joining me for the finals games when the series shifts back to Hamilton then?

Read More......