The IceHogs get to spend the weekend in Ontario and tonight is their second and final game against the Hamilton Bulldogs, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. The Bulldogs have the least amount and points and goals scored in the entire AHL. You would not have guessed that when Hamilton thrashed the Hogs 6-4, in Rockford, back on December 15th. Martin St. Pierre had 2 goals and an assist in the losing effort.
The IceHogs have never beaten the Bulldogs in regulation in 10 meetings since joining the AHL. Peter LeBlanc will get to play in front of his hometown fans tonight. Their are six other Ontario native IceHogs looking forward to the weekend; Andrew Shaw, Rob Flick, Brandon Pirri, St. Pierre, Shawn Lalonde and Carter Hutton. Tonight is a game the Hogs have to win, especially with the Western Conference’s top team, the Toronto Marlies, on tap tomorrow.
Bulldogs center Gabriel Dumont has 7 points (4 G, 3 A) in his last six games. His recent hot streak has him tied with Brendan Gallagher as the team’s leader in points with 18. Both players have 9 goals and 9 assists each. Nathan Beaulieu leads the team with 10 assists. Cedrick Desjardins and Robert Mayer have pretty much split time in goal for Hamilton. Desjardins is 5-10-0 with a 3.10 GAA and a .898 save % in 15 games. Two have wins have been shutouts. Mayer is 6-7-2 with a 3.21 GAA and a .899 save % in 17 games.