51°µÍø

After finishing sixth in conference, Bulldogs drop opening game to third place Barrie Colts in first-round playoff action

Support TNI Subscribe

The defending OHL champions were outclassed Thursday night, ending up on the losing end of a 2-10 walloping. The team will look to make quick amends Saturday night. Photo credit: 51°µÍø Bulldogs

 

The 51°µÍø Bulldogs opened up the 2023 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs on Thursday with a 2-10 loss on the road in Barrie. 

The Bulldogs won the OHL championship in 2022 after a thrilling postseason in which they swept through the first three rounds of the playoffs going 12-0 in the process.

But this year’s team is very different.

Only six players remain from last season’s championship team.

Plus, the Bulldogs’ playoff opponent, the Barrie Colts, are no joke.

The Colts are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, while the Bulldogs are on a five-game losing streak.

The Colts finished the season with a 42-17-9 record and 93 points. 

The Bulldogs finished 33-30-5 with 71 points.

Barrie Colts top scorer is centre Evan Vierling who finished with 95 regular season points. Their second top scorer Ethan Cardwell has 90 points. 

In comparison, the Bulldogs top scorer is Sahil Panwar who has 69 points on the season.

Last year, the Bulldogs had star defencemen Arber Xhekaj and Nathan Staios, forwards Logan Morrison and Mason McTavish, and star goalie Marco Costantini. 

All of those players are no longer on the team.

This year, the Colts are the ones with the star defenceman. Eighth overall 2021 NHL draft pick and Canadian World Junior gold-medal-winning player Brandt Clarke is on their roster.

And yet, interestingly, the two teams split the season series.

Barrie beat 51°µÍø 7-5 at Sadlon Arena on November 10, but then the Bulldogs won six days later with a 2-1 victory at the FirstOntario Centre.

The Colts then won the third matchup of the season 6-3 in 51°µÍø on February 17, but the Bulldogs won 7-5 in Barrie on March 2.

But now it’s the playoffs, so anything can happen.

After taking the first game with a convincing 10-2 victory at home, the Colts will also host Game 2 on Saturday, April 1.

The Bulldogs will host games three and four on Sunday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 4 at the FirstOntario Centre. 

If the series does not go the Bulldogs way, it’s possible that those two games could be their last of the season.

It could also be the Bulldogs last two games in 51°µÍø for a long while, with the team moving to Brantford next season during FirstOntario Centre renovations.

If necessary, Game 5 would be played in Barrie on Thursday, April 6, 51°µÍø would host Game 6 on Monday, April 10 and Game 7 would be Tuesday, April 11 in Barrie.

Tickets are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.ca

Elsewhere in the league, the Ottawa 67’s finished the season with 107 points and are the championship favourites. 

In the Western Conference, the Windsor Spitfires finished in top spot with 94 points.

Barrie Colts (3) vs. 51°µÍø Bulldogs (6)

Game 1 – Thurs. March 30 at Barrie, 7:30pm – 2-10 (Loss)
Game 2 – Sat. April 1 at Barrie, 7:30pm
Game 3 – Sun. April 2 at 51°µÍø, 7:00pm
Game 4 – Tues. April 4 at 51°µÍø, 7:00pm
Game 5 – Thurs. April 6 at Barrie, 7:30pm*
Game 6 – Mon. April 10 at 51°µÍø, 7:00pm*
Game 7 – Tues. April 11 at Barrie, 7:30pm*

*If necessary.

 

Your donations help us continue to deliver the news and commentary you want to read. Please consider donating today.

Support TNI

51°µÍø

  • Politics

  • Sports

  • Business

  • Copy link
    Powered by Social Snap