HabsWorld.net -- 

The Hamilton Bulldogs earned a split on the
road, and are headed home for 3 straight games this week, before a 5-day layoff
should the series make it to 6 games.  We’ll examine the numbers and
streaks, plus a final thought on how the non-signing of Juraj Mikus isn’t as big
a deal as everyone is making it out to be, in the Recap.

The Dog
Pound

The Dogs got their split on the road, and have
taken over home ice advantage in the series.

Scores:

Game-by-game,  Games 1-2 vs Hershey.

June 1 1 2 3 Tot PP SOG
Hamilton 0 3 1 4 3/7 25
Hershey 0 0 0 0 0/9 46

Attendance:  10,257
3 Stars:  1) Price – HAM  2) Locke – HAM  3) Jancevski – HAM

June 2 1 2 3 Tot PP SOG
Hamilton 1 1 0 2 0/9 22
Hershey 1 2 1 4 2/9 40

Attendance:  10,768
3 Stars:  1) Barney – HER  2) Klepis – HER  3) Hendricks –
HER

Weekly
Stats:

Aside from Locke and Jancevski, no Bulldogs had
more than a single point this week.

SKATERS
# Player GP G A +/- SH PIMS
2 Ryan O’Byrne 2 0 0 +1 4 4
4 Dan Jancevski 2 0 4 +1 3 6
7 Eric Manlow 2 0 1 E 2 0
10 Cory Urquhart 2 0 0 E 1 0
16 Andre Benoit 2 0 1 E 2 4
17 Kyle Chipchura 2 1 0 +1 3 0
19 Duncan Milroy 2 0 0 E 5 2
20 Zack Stortini 2 1 0 E 3 7
21 Jonathan Ferland 2 0 0 +1 2 0
22 Matt D’Agostini 2 1 0 E 3 4
25 Michael Lambert 2 0 0 E 4 0
26 Maxim Lapierre 2 0 1 E 4 6
27 Danny Groulx 2 0 1 E 1 2
31 Mikhail Grabovski 2 1 0 E 3 9
32 Ajay Baines 2 0 0 +1 3 2
34 Mathieu Biron 2 0 0 E 1 13
55 Andrew Archer 2 0 0 E 0 2
84 Corey Locke 2 2 2 E 3 0

GOALIES
# Player MINS SF SVS GA
29 Carey Price 119 86 82 4

Playoff Leaders: 

Goals:  Locke (10)
Assists:  Locke (10)
Points:  Locke (20)
+/-:  Chipchura (+10)
PIMS:  Lapierre/Stortini (35)

Schedule:

June 4th: 
Hershey vs Hamilton
June 6th:  Hershey vs Hamilton
June 7th:  Hershey vs Hamilton

Inside
the Numbers

Corey Locke:  Now leads all active
playoff scorers in points.

Defence:  2 of Hamilton’s top-4 point producers are defencemen. 
Locke and Chipchura lead, followed by Groulx and Jancevski.

Slumping:  Duncan Milroy (1 goal in 19 playoff games), Maxim
Lapierre (0 goals in the last 11 games), and Mikhail Grabovski (2 goals in the
last 16 games).

Carey Price:  6th in playoff GAA, 3rd in SV%, 2nd in wins.  He
has also faced over 100 more shots than any other goalie in the postseason.

Final
Thought

Frequenting the boards and papers as I do, I
find myself becoming more and more puzzled by the fans frustration over allowing
Juraj Mikus to re-enter the NHL draft later this month.  He recorded just
71 points (61 games) this season in the QMJHL, consistently the highest scoring
of the major junior leagues in Canada.  By comparison, Cory Urquhart, a
prospect that many wonder if he’ll get another contract, had similar numbers, 79
points in 67 games.  Michael Lambert, another fringe prospect, had 84
points in 67 games in his last season in the Q.  Obviously, the numbers
don’t mean everything, but 71 points as one of the go-to scorers on your team in
a high scoring league isn’t going to impress in that regard.  Add to that
the fact he allegedly said he would consider returning home if not signed, and
doubt begins to settle in about his long-term commitment, particularly after
leaving home to come over to play before this coming season.  I know he has
some intrigue, and I would’ve liked to see him get a shot, as I do with almost
every prospect, but losing Mikus isn’t anything for anyone to be losing any
sleep over.