Katzen Allerlei » 4). The Bulldogs have just one win in their past

HAMILTON - Playing their third game in as many days, the Hamilton Bulldogs salvaged their weekend with an energetic, 60-minute effort on Sunday. Martin St. Pierre scored two goals, including the game winner in the second period, as the Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League. "Travelling has been hectic this weekend, but were not a team that makes excuses," said St. Pierre. "If we lose while were working hard, well take the loss. We felt that we played well this weekend and just didnt get the bounces. "We knew that it has to be mind over matter when you have three games over two and a half days." Mike Blunden also had a goal for the Bulldogs (23-25-5) and Dustin Tokarski made 32 saves. Quinton Howden scored the lone goal for the Rampage (23-23-8), while Jacob Markstrom stopped 28 shots in a losing effort. Hamilton got off to a promising start, challenging Markstrom early and often in the first period. Offensive pressure paid dividends when the Bulldogs opened the scoring through their captain at 7:25. Greg Pateryn carried the puck in from the blue line and released a low, hard shot toward the far post that Markstrom kicked into St. Pierres path as he streaked in from the left wing. St. Pierre reacted quickly and fired the puck past the sprawling goaltender before he could recover his position. The Bulldogs lead nearly doubled three minutes later, when Sven Andrighetto threaded a centring pass through the San Antonio defence that found Maxime Macenauer in the low slot. But Markstrom slid to his right and snared the centres ensuing wrist shot with his glove. Hamilton head coach Sylvain Lefebvre was encouraged by his teams strong start, and argued that it had become a recent trend. "The one thing that stood out this weekend was that we started all three games very strongly," said Lefebvre. "Tonight, we stuck with it and kept going." A bright first period was dimmed somewhat when the Bulldogs were assessed two minor penalties at the same stoppage of play at 19:26, as Gabriel Dumont was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing a slashing penalty to Blunden. The exchange meant that Hamilton would have to survive 1:11 of 5-on-3 hockey early in the second period. Those penalties passed without incident, but the Rampage made the most of their next power-play opportunity when Louis Leblanc was whistled for hooking at 7:10 of the second period. Tokarski knocked aside Ryan Martindales initial shot from the slot with his blocking glove, but the forward recovered his rebound and chipped a quick shot that Howden tipped past the goaltender at 8:06. Markstrom was tested several times as the Bulldogs pushed for a second goal, and came up with consecutive saves to deny St. Pierre and Sven Andrighetto in quick succession midway through the period. But there was little that he could do to prevent the eventual breakthrough, as Nathan Beaulieus point shot rebounded high into the air, and St. Pierre was waiting as it dropped to slide it past the goaltender at the near post at 12:15. The Bulldogs added some insurance on the power play at 6:29 of the third period. Markstrom turned aside Nick Tarnaskys initial shot, but Mike Blunden was posted in the low slot and corralled the rebound, easily slotting it past the goaltender. Hamilton successfully crowded Markstroms crease on Sunday, and Lefebvre stated that the Bulldogs will have to continue that tactic in the future. "We need to do that," he said. "We dont score too many highlight-reel goals. We grind them out, and thats our trademark. Thats who we are. "Some nights we dont want to pay the price as much and it shows. But this weekend we did, and we competed all weekend." The Bulldogs went 1-4 with the man advantage, while the Rampage were 1-3. Note: The Montreal Canadiens announced the call up of Hamilton defenceman Jarred Tinordi midway through Sundays game. Dale Hawerchuk Jersey . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys . The Raptors general manager has his list of possible draft selections whittled down to a handful ahead of Thursday nights NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The Raptors, who have auditioned dozens of players over the past couple of weeks, have the 20th overall pick in the first round, as well as the 37th and 58th picks in the second. http://www.officialwinnipegjetspro.com/ . Some will say that Martin is too sensitive while others will say that it is part of the way football is in the locker room. But to have to absorb what was said to him for any rational and intelligent person is too much. Teppo Numminen Jersey . - Wesley Matthews got a chance to practice his bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration on Sunday night. Laurie Boschman Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario.ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Joni Ortio made 26 saves as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-1 in American Hockey League action on Saturday night. The 23-year-old Ortio picked up his 19th win of the year, one off the league lead, though Hamilton snapped his shutout streak at 107 minutes and 41 seconds. Markus Granlund had a goal and an assist for Abbotsford (28-14-4), who are 3-0-2 in their past five. Max Reinhart, Josh Jooris and Derek Smith also scored. Stefan Fournier scored for Hamilton (20-20-4). The Bulldogs have just one win in their past six games and scored just three goals in those five losses. Robert Mayer made 26 saves in the loss. Reinhart opened the scoring at the 7:56 mark of the first on the power play. Markus Granlund crept to the right face-off dot to release a hard wrist shot and Reinhart was there to quickly bbag the rebound for his 10th of the year.dddddddddddd Jooris doubled the lead with 42 seconds to go in the first. Sven Baertschi was checked off the puck in the high slot, but Jooris pounced on it and beat Mayer with a deke move for his sixth goal of the season. Granlund made it 3-0 at 3:33 of the third on a short-handed goal. Carter Bancks chipped the puck to himself, creating a 2-on-1 rush with Granlund and the Finnish forward backhanded the Bancks saucer pass past an outstretched Mayer. The Bulldogs solved Ortio at 7:41 of the third as Greg Pateryns shot was deflected by Fournier for just his second goal of the year. Smith floated a shot from centre into the empty net with 45 seconds to play to round out the scoring. The Bulldogs power play unit, third-worst in the AHL, has been held scoreless in its last 32 attempts. ' ' '