Hamilton Bulldogs set schedule for OHL second-round series vs. Mississauga

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Published May 3, 2022 at 7:33 pm

A pair of two-day breaks are built into the schedule for the Hamilton Bulldogs’ playoff series against the Mississagua Steelheads.

The best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal will begin Thursday at FirstOntario Centre. Game 2 is a Mother’s Day matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Mississauga will hosts games 3 and 4 on May 10 and 13. The only potential for back-to-back games is if the series goes the full seven games.

A social media post from the Bulldogs teased a $5 beer special for their homegames.

Hamilton has won 40 of its last 43 games, including a franchise-first four-game sweep of the Peterborough Petes in the opening round. Anaheim Ducks first-round choice Mason McTavish and veteran Bulldogs centre Logan Morrison are also the only OHL tandem — and two of just six players — who are averaging two points per game so far in the playoffs.

Mississauga beat the Barrie Colts in a six-game first-round series, winning a playoff round for the first time since 2017. James Hardie was the pace-setting point-getter with six goals and eight points, including a double-overtime goal in Game 4. A defence corps led by Freelton native Ethan Del Mastro also limited Barrie to 13 goals over the equivalent of almost seven full games, since three contests required overtime.

The Steelheads’ play this year, as a franchise that has chronic attendance issues and also lacks an NHL-drafted forward on the roster, has led to coach James Richmond being the Eastern Conference nominee for OHL coach of the year. Richmond got the nod over Bulldogs bench boss Jay McKee, whose club led the OHL in wins (51), points (107), goals scored (296) and fewest goals against (174).

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