We might have a few suspensions coming our way:
www.tsn.ca/ahl/news_story.asp?id=120382AHL: Benches clear in Bulldogs' win
Canadian Press
4/3/2005
HAMILTON (CP) - The Grand Rapids Griffins and the Hamilton Bulldogs cleared the benches at Copps Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
Antti Miettinen had a goal and an assist and backup goaltender Dan Ellis made 19 saves as the Bulldogs skated to a 4-1 win over Grand Rapids in an AHL game that ended in a brawl.
Hamilton's Jonathan Ferland and Darryl Bootland of Grand Rapids shoved each other after the horn sounded, the benches emptied and the fighting began.
"You've got a guy over there like Bootland, that's his type of game, to get under guys' skin," said Hamilton defenceman Trevor Daley. "He's an emotional player and that's what's good about him.
"He's somebody you want on your team and you don't want to play against them. At the end of the game there, he let his emotions get the best of him."
Ferland and Bootland got fighting penalties at the 20:00 mark and Hamilton enforcer Raitis Ivanans was assessed a game misconduct for jumping into the fray. Suspensions are expected.
Hamilton got the majority of calls its way throughout the game, finishing with seven power-play opportunities to two for the Griffins. But Grand Rapids head coach Greg Ireland said the aggression was relatively even.
"You can't win from the penalty box, that's for sure," Ireland said. "I thought there were some others that could've went our way, and they didn't.
"I don't think we were any chippier than they were. We end up on the short end. We've got to take care of our own business and make sure we're a little bit more disciplined."
Ellis made his first start in 10 games. The Orangeville, Ont., native didn't have a lot of work but was solid when necessary. The only goal he allowed was on a shot he couldn't see.
"It's my first game in about four weeks," said Ellis, who admitted to being a little nervous, though he knew red-hot starter Yann Danis would be back between the pipes soon regardless of the result. "You get into this sport to play games.
"When I get an opportunity, I might as well enjoy it."
"We've got two great goaltenders here," said captain Jason Ward, who had stitches in his lip after taking an elbow from Peter Vandermeer late in the game. "It's been one of those things where Yann's been hot so we've been staying with him.
"Elly stepped up to the plate. He works hard every night and it was great to see him a big win." Miettinen assisted on Tomas Plekanec's winning goal and then scored his seventh of the season late in the second period.
Ward and Chris Higgins also scored for Hamilton (33-28-7-5), which erupted for three goals in the second.
Eric Himelfarb had the lone goal for the Griffins (38-30-2-2). Both teams were playing their third games in three nights, which translated into some sloppy play in the first period.
The Bulldogs had the better scoring chances early but couldn't convert until Ward cashed in at 1:29 of the second period. He gathered the puck in front of the net and waited for goalie Joey MacDonald to go down before firing in his 19th goal of the season and 50th as a Bulldog.
Ward has at least one point in 10 of the last 14 games and has 47 points on the year, third on the team.
Plekanec made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later with his 25th on the year. He was parked to the left of MacDonald and buried the second of two swipes at the puck at 11:40.
Miettinen scored at 18:57 off of a Marc-Andre Thinel pass from behind the net.
"They do a pretty good job and if they get that first goal, the way they play as a trapping team," said Ireland. "They came out and got the first one and it sort of wore down from there." The Griffins, the affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, got one back with 21 seconds remaining in the period when Himelfarb scored a screened goal, one of the few good chances they had.
"Our team's really been tightening it up defensively and in the neutral zone, making it easier on the goalies," said Ellis. "Myself tonight, I don't think I had any real difficult saves.
"The guys cleared pucks out in front and kept things to the perimeter."
Drew MacIntyre replaced MacDonald for the third period. Vandermeer was tossed late in the game for elbowing Ward. Brett Lebda also picked up a cross-checking penalty at the same time, and Higgins scored Hamilton's fourth of the afternoon on the subsequent man advantage.
Notes: MacDonald entered the game as one of the league leaders in several goaltending categories. He was fourth in wins (32), first in minutes (3561:19), first in saves (1693), second in shootout wins (six) and 10th in goals-against average (2.19) . . . Hamilton's Benjamin Carpentier sat out after sustaining a head injury in a win over Syracuse on Saturday. Thinel took his spot in the lineup against the Griffins . . . Steve Begin assisted on Wards's goal. It was Begin's second helper, to go along with seven goals, in his 16th game with the Bulldogs . . . Hamilton had 17 shots in the second period.
38-30-2-2 : 80 points (5th in the West Division) 
33-28-7-5 : 78 points (4th in the North Division) 
# 1 Karl Goehring (32-27-2), 2.19 GAA
# 35 Dan Ellis (8-18-0), 2.82 GAA 
