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HAMILTON, Ont. China Jerseys . -- The Hamilton Bulldogs tempted fate one too many times against the American Hockey Leagues top power-play unit on Saturday. The Texas Stars scored two power-play goals in the second period, erasing a two-goal deficit, before eventually winning the game 3-2 in overtime. "Each time that weve played (the Stars), weve played them physically, especially on their top line," said Bulldogs head coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "We played a really good first period, but the penalties were costly, especially in the end." Chris Mueller had three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime, while Travis Morin and Curtis McKenzie also scored for the Stars (30-15-6). Cristopher Nilstorp made 25 saves in the win. Nick Tarnasky and Louis Leblanc had goals for the Bulldogs (22-22-5), while Dustin Tokarski stopped 45 shots in a losing effort. Hamilton took an early lead when Tarnasky stole the puck from a Texas defender in the neutral zone and broke in alone on Nilstorp. The winger kept things simple, launching a rising slap shot from the top of the left circle that trickled between the goaltenders arm and body and slid across the goal line at 4:03 of the first period. Chances were at a premium as the period wore on, with both teams content to play primarily in the neutral zone. But it was a rare passing play that brought the Bulldogs their second goal of the game at 16:32. Patrick Holland moved the puck out to Martin St. Pierre on the left wing, as Hamilton broke into the Texas zone with numbers. The Bulldog captain waited as Leblanc caught up to the play, and slid a drop pass to him that Leblanc snapped high and hard, and past Nilstorp at the far post. A high-sticking penalty to Leblanc at the conclusion of the first period gave the Stars 1:43 to work with a two-man advantage to open the second. They made the most of it almost instantly, scoring to cut their deficit in half just 13 seconds into the period. Mueller took control of the puck below the goal line and centred it cross-ice to Morin, who chipped a one-time shot over the near shoulder of Tokarski. St. Pierre singled out his teams lack of discipline as a fatal flaw, especially because Texas entered play with an AHL-leading power-play thats connected on 27.6 per cent of its opportunities. "I think we shot ourselves in the foot taking a penalty in the last minute of the first period," said St. Pierre. "We knew that (Texas) had a good power play. We have a good penalty kill as well, but we gave them a couple of chances and with the skill that they have, they scored." Mueller was the creator once again when Texas levelled the game on another power play at 8:21 of the second period. With McKenzie streaking in along the opposite wing, Mueller threaded a cross-ice pass to him that McKenzie quickly slid back across Tokarskis crease and inside his far post. Nilstorp had to be sharp to maintain the tied score with four minutes to play in the second, when the Bulldogs pieced together a dangerous rush of their own on the power play. Gabriel Dumont received a cross-ice pass in space, and released a rising one-time shot that Nilstorp slid across his crease to kick aside. Controversy struck in the final minute of the game, as a group of Bulldogs attacked a loose puck in Nilstrops crease and believed that the puck had crossed the goal line. The play was quickly waved off, however, with the official indicating that he had intended to stop play. Texas secured the extra point in overtime when Scott Glennie won the puck behind the Hamilton net and centred to a wide-open Mueller, who fired a quick slap shot high and past Tokarski at the near post at 1:33 of the overtime period. Tokarski, who was frustrated with what he thought to be inconsistency from the referees, believed that he had earned a stoppage of play before the final goal was scored. "If youre going to be bad for the game, be bad on both sides," he said. "(The official) waved a goal off for us with a quick whistle, and then when there should have been a whistle at (our) end, he didnt blow it. "Who knows who would have won, but I would have liked to have seen a better end to the game than the refs deciding it." Texas was 2-5 on the power play while Hamilton went 0-5. Jerseys From China . Lowry joined TSN 1050 on Monday to discuss his personal growth, what was going through his mind on his final second drive and whether his future plans include staying in Toronto. “That last play will be my summertime grind,” Lowry said of his final shot which was blocked by Paul Pierce in the lane as time expired. cheap jerseys . -- Champ Bailey finally gets a chance to live up to his name. TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs paid a price to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier suffered a lower-body injury Thursday as the Leafs went on to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime. Bernier left the game at 8:22 of the third period favouring his left leg after Leafs defenceman Paul Ranger pushed Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron on top of Torontos goalie. Ranger was assessed a minor penalty for interference on the play and Bernier was replaced by James Reimer, who made 10 saves to record his 12th win of the season. "We were just kind of spinning around, pushing each other in front and he was looking for position," said Ranger of the battle with Bergeron. "I was pushing him around, next thing you know, I just pushed him and he was on top of (Bernier). "I want (Bernier) to be on the ice and on our team. We need him. Hes a key part of us. I hope that everything is OK. I dont know whats going to happen here." Leafs coach Randy Carlyle announced post-game that Bernier would undergo a MRI on Friday. Carlyle declined to say if his starter aggravated a groin injury suffered on Mar. 13 in the Leafs 3-2 win at Los Angeles. "Some times these things happen in hockey," said Ranger. "I just talked to (Bernier), he understands, these things happen some times." Bernier missed five games with the groin injury as the Leaffs went on an 0-5-0 slide while Reimer, who started all five games, posted a 4. nflchinawholesalecheapjerseys. 22 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage. "When you see a teammate go off accompanied by the training staff, its not good," said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf. "You feel for him. Hes done so much for our team and hes such a big part of our team. Its a big loss. When we lose him to injury there it was definitely a blow to our team but Reims came in and did a great job for us." Bernier isnt the only health concern with the Maple Leafs as forward Joffrey Lupul did not play Thursday night. Lupul, according to the Leafs, suffered a lower-body injury while playing 18 minutes 32 seconds in the teams 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Lupul was replaced by David Clarkson on the teams second unit power play during the teams morning skate Thursday and was the first player off the ice. Lupul received treatment on Wednesday and then again on Thursday, but was deemed not ready for the game against the Bruins. Carlyle called Lupul doubtful for Saturday when Toronto plays host to the Winnipeg Jets. Lupul missed seven games with a groin injury suffered in the Leafs 6-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 25. With the injury to Lupul, the Leafs recalled forward Carter Ashton from the AHLs Toronto Marlies, but he was a healthy scratch in the win over the Bruins. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
