The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) return to Copps Coliseum for three-match-ups this week. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1^st the 'Dogs will go for their franchise record 50^th win of the season when they host the Toronto Marlies (American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) in the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame Game. The Bulldogs will then welcome the Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) to Copps Coliseum on Saturday, April 3^rd for a 7:00 p.m. game before ending the week with a tilt against the Manitoba Moose (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) on Sunday, April 4^th at 4:00 p.m. at Copps Coliseum.

Last week, the Bulldogs posted one loss before recording three straight victories to finish off their seven-game road trip. Hamilton started the week with a 3-2 loss to the Moose on Tuesday, March 23^rd before extracting revenge on Manitoba with a 7-1 victory on Wednesday, March 24^th. The 'Dogs then travelled to Abbotsford for a pair of games against the Heat (AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames). The club secured their second win of the week on Friday, March 26^th with a 2-1 victory over Abbotsford on a late third period tally from Andre Benoit before earning their franchise record-tying 12^th shutout of the season with a 4-0 win over the Heat on Saturday, March 27^th. The victory was Hamilton's 49^th regular season win, tying the franchise record for most wins in a season.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Tuesday, March 23^rd - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 @ MANITOBA MOOSE 3

MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB

Hamilton Goals: Mike Glumac

Manitoba Goals: Marco Rosa, Guillaume Desbiens, Evan Oberg*

Goaltending: Hamilton: Curtis Sanford (L - 25 shots, 22 saves) / Manitoba: Cory Schneider (W - 26 shots, 24 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 0-4 / Manitoba 1-5

Attendance: 6,909

* - Scored Game Winning Goal

Wednesday, March 24^th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 7 @ MANITOBA MOOSE 1

MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB

Hamilton Goals: Brock Trotter (2)*, Aaron Palushaj, Yannick Weber, Ryan Russell, Dany Masse, Andrew Conboy

Manitoba Goals: Lawrence Nycholat

Goaltending: Hamilton: Cedrick Desjardins (W - 17 shots, 216 saves) / Manitoba: Cory Schneider (L - 20 shots, 15 saves), Daren Machesney (7 shots, 5 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 2-9 / Manitoba 0-7

Attendance: 7,769

* - Scored Game Winning Goal

Friday, March 26^th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 @ ABBOTSFORD HEAT 1

Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre - Abbotsford, BC

Hamilton Goals: Mike Glumac, Andre Benoit*

Abbotsford Goals: Cam Cunning

Goaltending: Hamilton: Cedrick Desjardins (W - 20 shots, 19 saves) / Abbotsford: David Shantz (L - 28 shots, 26 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 0-4 / Abbotsford 1-5

Attendance: 3,627

* - Scored Game Winning Goal

Saturday, March 27^th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 4 @ ABBOTSFORD HEAT 0

Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre - Abbotsford, BC

Hamilton Goals: P.K. Subban*, David Desharnais (2), Brock Trotter

Abbotsford Goals: None

Goaltending: Hamilton: Curtis Sanford (W - 5 shots, 5 saves), Cedrick Desjardins (16 shots, 16 saves) / Abbotsford: David Shantz (L - 25 shots, 21 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 3-9 / Abbotsford 0-5

Attendance: 4,509

* - Scored Game Winning Goal

NORTH DIVISION STANDINGS:

(As of Monday, March 29^th)

y - Clinched Division Title

BULLDOGS NOTES:

• The Bulldogs earned their franchise record-tying 49^th win of the season in a 4-0 victory over the Abbotsford Heat on Saturday, March 27^th. The victory was also the 'Dogs 26^th road win of the season which sets a new franchise record for most road wins in one season.
• Hamilton's 107 points are currently 24 more than any other team in the North Division.
• The 'Dogs have clinched the North Division title for 2009-2010. It is the third division title in franchise history for the Bulldogs as they won the Canadian Division in 2002-2003 and the North Division in 2003-2004.
• The Bulldogs magic number to clinch the Western Conference title is 5. Any points picked up by the 'Dogs or not picked up by the Chicago Wolves will reduce that number.   
• Bulldogs C Brock Trotter and C David Desharnais are currently tied for 7^th in the league for leading scorers. Trotter has 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points while Deshanrais has posted 24 goals and 49 assists for 73 points. Both are only four points shy of the Bulldogs' franchise record for most points in a season.
• Hamilton D P.K. Subban set a new franchise record for power-play goals by a Bulldogs defenceman in a single season.  Subban recorded his 11^th power-play goal in Saturday's 4-0 win over Abbotsford which passed the previous mark of 10 that was set by teammate Yannick Weber in 2008-2009. Subban now has 18 goals and 35 assists this season, complemented by a +43 rating - tied for the highest +/- rating in the league. Subban's point total this year (53) is also a new franchise record for most points by a Bulldogs defenceman in a single season as he broke the previous record of 45. Subban's 18 goals are also a new franchise record for goals by a 'Dogs defenceman in one season as he passed the previous mark of 16.
• Bulldogs F Hunter Bishop played the first game of his professional career in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Manitoba Moose. Bishop was held pointless while recording two shots on net.  
• The goaltending tandem of Cedrick Desjardins and Curtis Sanford has been spectacular between the pipes for Hamilton this season, resulting in a league best 2.23 team goals against average. Desjardins' 1.93 GAA puts him in top spot in the AHL in that category, while Sanford's 2.13 GAA ranks him 3^rd in the league.
• Bulldogs D Andre Benoit set a new franchise record for career points by a Bulldogs defenceman with his 86^th career point in Hamilton's 4-1 win over Adirondack on March 3^rd.  Benoit assisted on Mike Glumac's second period goal, giving him the new title as the highest scoring defenceman in Bulldogs history.

UPCOMING GAMES:  

Thursday, April 1^st - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. TORONTO MARLIES

7:30 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM - HAMILTON, ON

• This game will mark the 11^th of 12 matchups between the Southern Ontario rivals this season
• In their last meeting on March 20^th, the 'Dogs lost a 4-3 to the Marlies in a shootout at Ricoh Coliseum
• The Bulldogs are 6-1-1-2 in 10 games against the Marlies this season
• The Marlies currently sit in 5^th position in the North Division with a 31-32-6-5 record and 73 points
• In 2008-2009, the Bulldogs managed a 7-3-2-0 record against the Marlies
• Hamilton's all-time record against Toronto currently sits at 27-22-0-5-4
• RW Andre Deveaux (15-23-38) is currently pacing the Marlies attack with 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 66 games played thus far this season
• There are currently 10 Ontario natives listed on the Marlies roster: C Tim Brent (Cambridge), LW Ryan Hamilton (Oshawa), RW Richard Greenop (Bowmanville), C Justin Hodgman (Brampton), D Ryan Stokes (Sarnia), D Phil Oreskovic (North York), D Todd Perry (Ingleside), D Simon Gysbers (Richmond Hill), D Jesse Blacker (Toronto), and G Andrew Engelage (Oshawa)

Saturday, April 3^rd - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. ROCHESTER AMERICANS

7:00 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM - HAMILTON, ON

• This will be the final of 10 contests between the North Division rivals this season
• In their last meeting on February 27^th, The 'Dogs defeated the Americans 4-1 as C Ben Maxwell posted two goals and an assist at Copps Coliseum
• The Bulldogs currently boast a 5-3-0-1 record against the Americans this season
• Rochester currently sits in 2^nd place in the North Division with a 40-31-2-1 record and 83 points, 24 points behind the division-leading Bulldogs
• Last season, the Bulldogs skated to a 5-3-0-0 record in eight games against the Americans
• Hamilton currently holds a 57-63-7-0-4 all-time record against Rochester
• C Jamie Johnson (24-42-66) is currently atop the Americans' scoring race with 24 goals and 42 assists for 66 points in 74 games played this season
• There are currently eight Ontario natives listed on the Rochester roster: C Jamie Johnson (Port Franks), C Chris Taylor (Stratford), LW Michael Duco (Toronto), RW Victor Oreskovich (Oakville), LW John Scott Dickson (North York), LW Kendal McArdle (Toronto), D Michael Caruso (Mississauga), D Carl Hudson (Smooth Rock Falls), D Scott Hotham (Barrie), and D John de Gray (Richmond Hill)

Sunday, April 4^th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. MANITOBA MOOSE

4:00 PM - COPPS COLISEUM - HAMILTON, ON

• This game is the seventh of eight contests between Hamilton and Manitoba this season
• In their last meeting on Wednesday, March 24^th Hamilton potted seven goals en route to a 7-1 victory over the Moose at MTS Centre
• The 'Dogs currently own a 3-2-1-0 record against Manitoba this season, outscoring the Moose 22-16 in those games
• Manitoba currently sits in 4^th position in the North Division standings with a 35-31-5-1 record and 76 points
• The Bulldogs currently own a 44-23-1-5-1 all-time record against Manitoba
• C Marco Rosa (21-30-51) is currently atop the Moose's scoring race with 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points in 72 games played this season
• There are two Ontario natives currently listed on the Manitoba roster: C Marco Rosa (Scarborough) and Hamilton native G Daren Machesney

ALUMNI WATCH:

There are more than 40 former Bulldogs on 2009-2010 National Hockey League rosters. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-'Dogs from this past week:

• Montreal forward Andrei Kostitsyn scored two goals in Montreal's 3-2 shootout loss to Buffalo (Mar. 24) before recording his second two-point night with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 loss to New Jersey (Mar. 27)
• Toronto C Mikhail Grabovski scored the game-winning overtime goal in a 2-1 win over Atlanta (Mar. 25) then had a two-assist night in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers (Mar. 27)
• Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll recorded three assists this week. He posted two helpers in the King's 4-3 overtime victory over Colorado (Mar. 22) and earned an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Avalanche (Mar. 24)
•  Montreal C Tomas Plekanec recorded three points this week. He earned an assist in a 3-2 shootoutloss to the Sabres (Mar. 24), potted a goal in the Canadiens' 4-1 victory over the Panthers (Mar. 25) and scored a goal in a 4-2 loss to the Devils (Mar. 27)
• Minnesota forward Antti Miettinen dished out two assists in the Wild's 4-3 overtime win over the Flyers (Mar. 25)
• Edmonton forward Marc Pouliot notched an assist in the Oilers' 3-2 win over Vancouver (Mar. 23) before netting a goal in a 3-2 loss to Anaheim
• Dallas forward Mike Ribiero earned two assists in a 4-1 win over Los Angeles (Mar. 27)
• Boston forward Michael Ryder had two assists this week, one in a 4-0 victory over Atlanta (Mar. 23) and the second in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay (Mar. 25)

TUNE IN TO Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network AND CABLE 14:

Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 'TALK 820'. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'AHL Live' or 'TALK 820' icon on the Bulldogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 30 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills calls the play-by-play of all 80 regular season games, while Al Craig provides the colour commentary for all home games and select road games.

In addition Cable 14 will air live broadcasts 13 of club's 38 home games at Copps Coliseum. In a joint venture with Mohawk College, Cable 14 will also broadcast the 25 Hamilton Bulldogs' home games not being shown live in their entirety as 'Dogs-in-an-Hour at 11:00 p.m. on the night of the game. 

Cable 14 will also carry Rogers Television's live coverage of six Hamilton Bulldogs versus Toronto Marlies games at Ricoh Coliseum.

For a full listing of all the games broadcast on Cable 14 follow this link: http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/page/broadcast_1019#Live%20Broadcast%20Schedule

GET YOUR TICKETS!:

Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, flex tickets, min pack tickets, group tickets and tickets are now on sale! Individual game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office (in-person sales only), all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.ca or call 905-527-7666. For information on season tickets, flex tickets, mini pack tickets and group tickets visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 or 1-866-364-7849.

GET YOUR BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE AT THE "DAWG HOUSE":
Fans can purchase Bulldogs merchandise during all home games at the "Dawg House" store located behind section 114 on the concourse level at Copps Coliseum.

In the store, fans can find hats, t-shirts, jackets, replica jerseys, foam fingers, foam 'Bone Heads', and other select novelty items for sale.

MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS:

(1^st Star - 5pts, 2^nd Star - 3pts, 3^rd Star - 1pt)

FLAMBORO DOWNS WORKHORSE OF THE GAME LEADERS:
(10 pts. - Hardest working Hamilton Bulldogs player)

HAMILTON BULLDOGS TEAM STATISTICS:

(As of Monday, March 29^th, 2010)

Hamilton Bulldogs