dlbalr

The Bulldogs get outshot this time but hold on for the 2-1 win. http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010094

Now 2-1 Bulldogs on goals from Blunden and Quailer, both in the 2nd. Less than 5 left in regulation.

1-0 St. John's on a late goal (with 9 seconds left). After getting 46 shots last night, the Bulldogs have managed all of 2 through the first 25 minutes tonight.

Alright, I'm lazy, no new GDT for Game 2 which is now underway. Leblanc is back for Avtsin, Desjardins in. The lines: Blunden-Dumont-Gallagher Bournival-Holland-Palushaj Quailer-Boyce-Leblanc Hagel-Nattinen-Stortini Beaulieu - St-Denis Tinordi - Ellis Nash - Corbin It's scoreless early in the 1st.

I can't the owners accepting as is (I don't think the cap benefit recapture or the minimum $67.25 M upper limit in particular will sit too well) but this is certainly a step in the right direction. De-linkage is still a part of the proposal though which, as we saw last time, the owners will kill the year for. If anyone's interested in the full details, here they are: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=409992

Here is what our writers had to suggest for tweaks/changes: http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2944

Hamilton outshoots St. John's by a mile (46-19) but can only manage one goal and fall 3-1. The rematch goes late tomorrow afternoon (I think at 5:30 PM). http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010089

It's funny, I went to bed last night planning to abandon this idea due to a lack of discussion but today's stuff has made me change my mind, I'll put the WWI piece together on Thursday. Icing appears to be a point of contention, has anyone seen the hybrid icing rule they're using in the AHL? Their governors voted today to keep it in use all season.

Just as I was about to type that it's 2-1 for the IceCaps, they make it 3-1. Gallagher has the goal for Hamilton by the way.

A good update on what has been agreed to so far - July 1st will no longer be unofficially dubbed 'Free Agency Day.' http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1290414--nhl-lockout--nhlpa-could-deliver-new-proposal-wednesday

Okay, so my conversion from NST to EST is a little off. This was a 6 PM start and the Bulldogs are already down 1-0 after 1. Even worse, it's Mayer in net!

We will see a fair bit of roster news throughout MLB today as it's Rule 5 deadline day. There will be a lot of players designated for assignment (and quite possibly a few trades too) that are currently on the 40-man to make room for prospects that would otherwise be eligible - it's like a waiver draft of sorts. The Jays already have to remove one player for the Cabrera signing and if they want to protect any of their Rule 5 eligible players (and there is at least one that in my opinion absolutely has to be protected), they'll be designating at least one more. If anyone's interested in the Jays' particular situation, here's a great look at who is eligible and when: http://www.bluebirdb...e-5-eligibility Edit: That was fast. Jays DFA Mike McCoy (yay), Cory Wade (yay), and Mike McDade (boo) to make room for two players, one of which is the one I was referencing earlier (AJ Jiminez).

I wasn't thrilled this morning but after the press conference, I feel a little better about it. Once again, it's completely out of left field, par for the course this offseason. As for the staff, as long as Dwayne Murphy isn't kept on, I'll be happy.

The Bulldogs (5-6-1-1) have travelled out East to begin a two game in two day road trip against the St. John's IceCaps (7-8-0-0), affiliate of the Jets. The Caps' struggles are a bit surprising to me given the quality of their roster, especially depth wise. Former Bulldog Mark Mitera tried out for them back in training camp but was cut in a hurry. Projected Hamilton Lines: Blunden - Dumont - Gallagher Holland - Bournival - Palushaj Quailer - Boyce - Avtsin Hagel - Nattinen - Stortini Beaulieu - St-Denis Tinordi - Ellis Nash - Corbin Desjardins Projected St. John's Lines: Jaffray - Burmistrov - Machacek Maxwell - Gagnon - Gregoire Telegin - O`Dell - Klingberg Clark - Macenauer - Sawada Arsene - Postma Meech - Redmond O`Neill - Chiarot Dekanich Puck drop is at 6:30 PM (I think), Funny820 as always will have the play-by-play.

Scott Darling has been released from his PTO. Hopefully that means Desjardins will be able to dress for both St. John's games...playing in both would even be better.

Toronto vs Calgary in the finals. I certainly didn't see that one coming...

Well, the good news is that Hamilton kept it within a touchdown. 6-1 is the final and evidently I missed some kind of physical 3rd period, here's the penalty summary: 3 - HAM Gallagher, 4:50 - Roughing, 2 min 3 - HAM Mayer, 4:50 - Leaving the crease, 2 min 3 - TOR Ranger, 4:50 - Roughing, 2 min (PP) 3 - TOR Scrivens, 4:50 - Roughing, 2 min 3 - TOR Scrivens, 4:50 - Roughing, 2 min 3 - HAM Dumont, 6:52 - Fighting, 5 min 3 - TOR Colborne, 6:52 - Fighting, 5 min 3 - HAM Gallagher, 7:14 - Tripping, 2 min (PP) 3 - TOR Scott, 10:01 - Tripping, 2 min (PP) 3 - TOR Fraser, 10:29 - Boarding, 2 min (PP) 3 - HAM Boyce, 13:02 - Closing hand on puck, 2 min (PP) 3 - TOR Ranger, 14:12 - Hooking, 2 min (PP) 3 - HAM Palushaj, 14:19 - Misconduct, 10 min 3 - TOR Komarov, 16:55 - Bench minor - Interference, 2 min (PP) 3 - HAM Gallagher, 17:39 - Goaltender interference, 2 min (PP) 3 - HAM Gallagher, 17:39 - Misconduct, 10 min 3 - HAM Ellis, 18:26 - Slashing, 2 min 3 - HAM Ellis, 18:26 - Misconduct, 10 min 3 - TOR Deschamps, 18:26 - Goaltender interference, 2 min (PP) 3 - TOR Kadri, 18:26 - Slashing, 2 min When the goalies are getting into it, you know these teams have had enough of seeing each other. http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010080

He has had his moments and you're right, he hasn't had much help. But the bad mistakes that plagued him before are creeping back into his play this week where he has been abysmal both games. Even in that 2nd period, he was fighting the puck regardless of where it was shot from. He needs to be better. It's now 5-0 Toronto and the Marlies will have a huge PP (a little over 5 minutes left in it) after Stortini jumped a Marlie, earning himself 17 (or 27, I thought I heard 2/5/10/game) minutes in penalties and hopefully a suspension.

No Beaulieu for Hamilton, he apparently is hurt. 4-0 Toronto after 1. Mayer is playing like the Mayer we've come to know over the past 4 years. That's the last time I write anything praising his play on the main site... If anyone's hoping Desjardins will play, he's not even dressed as a precaution. Scott Darling is once again the backup (and may very well play in his second straight game as backup).

Collberg is off to a strong start today with a pair of goals. 5 points in 9 games now with Orebro. With Viktor Stalberg's deal set to expire in Frolunda though, I fear he'll be brought back to the SEL to reacquaint himself with the bench.

After an impressive (and rather surprising) victory over the Marlies last night, the Bulldogs are off to Toronto for the rematch this afternoon. Projected Hamilton Lines: Quailer - Bournival - Palushaj Blunden - Dumont - Gallagher Nattinen - Boyce - Avtsin Holland - Berger - Stortini St. Denis - Ellis Beaulieu - Corbin Tinordi - Stejskal Desjardins (I'm assuming there will be no changes from last night.) Projected Toronto Lines: Frattin - Kadri - Colborne Hamilton - Zigomanis - Scott Komarov - Aucoin - Abbott D'Amigo - Acton - Ashton Fraser – Holzer Gardiner – Kostka Gysbers - Ranger Scrivens (There are rumblings of numerous lineup changes from last night as the Marlies have a lot of healthy scratches at the moment. These are last night's lines...at least what I could make of them.) Puck drop is at 3 PM and can be seen on Sportsnet or TVA Sports. If you're not near a TV or don't get those channels, Funny820 as always will have the play-by-play.

What about shootout format? Should it be best of 3 as it is now or best of 5 as we see internationally and in the AHL?

6-3 final, the rematch goes tomorrow afternoon at 3 on SNET1. Bring on the banana! http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010058

Gallagher scores into the empty net...his second point of the night as well. 6-3 Bulldogs. Dumont and Stejskal get the assists. Stejskal also has a two point game.

Nattinen buries a puck in the slot past Scrivens to restore the lead! Avtsin and Boyce get the helpers, both of them have two point nights. And as I'm editing the assists in on that goal, Palushaj snipes one home to make it 5-3! Ellis and Bournival with the assists, both of them also have two point nights.