There’s still a chance Tuesday’s game will be the last time we see the Bulldogs at FirstOntario Centre for a long time. A loss that night and then a loss on Thursday in Barrie and that’ll be it. Off to Brantford for at least the next three years.
But after Sunday’s effort, that scenario feels a little less likely.
The same team that was thumped by the Colts in back-to-back games turned back into the defending Ontario Hockey League champions for Game 3. Which led to a richly deserved 6-3 win.
“I think it was an incredibly gritty effort,” head coach Jay McKee said after it was done.
He’s absolutely right. This crew isn’t as flashy or high-octane as last year’s group. But his guys were physical, they were first to the puck and they spent all game blocking shots. They rediscovered playoff hockey, in other words.
The lineup that lost 10-2 in Game 1 and was trailing 6-1 in Game 2 before scoring a couple of late goals was replaced with a bunch of guys who played with a champion’s pride. And a solid dollop of desperation. Heck, defenceman Artem Grushnikov — he of eight goals all regular season — even collected a hat trick, albeit with two into the empty net.
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“I don’t think any of us had that on the bingo card,” the coach quipped.
Now Tuesday night (7 p.m. at FirstOntario Centre) is suddenly about pulling even in this first-round series rather than just staying alive. If they play like this again, they could. And they will have a couple advantages in Game 4.
Their leading scorer, Sahil Panwar, was suspended for a bad hit in the series opener. He’s missed two games but will be back for the next one. That’s big.
Meanwhile, Barrie will be without its biggest star.
Midway through Sunday’s second period, Brandt Clarke — the captain who collected 10 points in the first two games and clearly drives the Colts offence — delivered an egregious and dangerous knee-on-knee hit to Bulldog forward Lawson Sherk. It was a dirty, dirty play.
Hamilton’s Lawson Sherk is hit by Barrie’s Brandt Clarke.
The Hamilton Spectator
Thankfully, Sherk says the result was just a charley horse and he was able to return. Still, the guys in his dressing room weren’t thrilled with it.
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“If he’s not suspended, I don’t think there’s ever going to be a kneeing call that is suspended,” McKee said afterward. “It looked like he intended to stick the leg out. It didn’t look accidental.”
The league obviously agreed. Clarke was given a one-game ban and will miss Tuesday’s contest.
The return of the Bulldogs overager and the absence of the Colts star will give Hamilton an even better shot at winning one of the next two games and making it back home for another game. At least one more.
Few will argue Barrie’s not the better squad. McKee calls them a “great team.” They finished 22 points ahead of Hamilton. This night could’ve been a blip. Heaven knows, they looked monumentally better in the first two games.
So Tuesday might indeed be the final home game. It might end up being local fans’ last chance to see their team live until the autumn of 2026. Or even later.
The Hamilton Bulldogs take to the ice to start the game.
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton’s Jorian Donovan pulls away from Barrie’s Roenick Jodoin.
The Hamilton Spectator
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Hamilton’s Adrian Rebelo collides with Barrie’s Brandt Clarke.
The Hamilton Spectator
Barrie’s Brandt Clarke circles behind Hamilton goalie Matteo Drobac.
Hamilton’s Noah Nelson is pursued by Barrie’s Chris Grisolia.
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton’s Lucas Moore brings the puck out from behind his net under pressure from Barrie’s Declan McDonnell.
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton’s Cole Brown scores over Barrie goalie Anson Thornton.
The Hamilton Spectator
Bulldogs Jorian Donovan, Lawson Sherk, and Nick Lardis celebrate Sherk’s second period goal.
The Hamilton Spectator
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Fans young and old get into a first period fight involving Hamilton’s Florian Xhekaj and Barrie’s Tyler Savard.
The Hamilton Spectator
But if this is a sign the Bulldogs have found their playoff gene and they can put together another performance like this, there might well be more hometown hockey yet to come.
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