The Brantford Bulldogs kicked off their crucial three-game eastern road trip with a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Peterborough Petes on Thursday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
With the victory, the Bulldogs strengthened their hold on first place in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Eastern Conference, solidifying their status as a top contender heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Thursday’s matchup was notable for the return of defensemen Adam Jiricek and Nikolas Rossetto, bolstering Brantford’s lineup as they looked to continue their push towards the postseason.
The Bulldogs wasted no time making an impact, breaking through early in the first period. At 4:11, Patrick Thomas controlled a defensive zone faceoff and sent the puck to Nick Lardis, who turned on the jets, carving through the neutral zone.
On a breakaway, Lardis deked to his backhand before snapping the puck over goaltender Zachary Bowen’s glove for his 58th goal of the season, giving Brantford the early lead. Thomas’ assist on the play matched Logan Morrison’s single-season franchise record for assists with 66.
Goaltender Ryerson Leenders ensured the Bulldogs maintained their advantage through the first frame, making key stops, including a spectacular post-to-post save that denied a dangerous Petes opportunity.
Peterborough pushed back in the second period, capitalizing on a transition play. Carson Cameron sprung a 2-on-1 rush, with Francis Parish’s initial shot turned aside by Leenders.
However, Adam Levac was in the right place to bury the rebound at 9:16, tying the game at 1-1. Brantford responded swiftly, reclaiming the lead just minutes later.
A strong defensive play by Thomas Budnick along the boards set up Jake O’Brien, who led an odd-man rush. O’Brien’s crisp pass found Marek Vanacker in stride, and the forward rifled a shot past Bowen for his 18th goal of the season, putting the Bulldogs back on top 2-1.
The Bulldogs’ special teams then took center stage. At 13:24, Thomas won an offensive-zone draw cleanly to Lardis, who wasted no time beating Bowen for his second goal of the game and 59th of the season, extending the lead to 3-1.
The milestone assist also made Thomas the new franchise leader in single-season assists with 67. The power-play continued to shine later in the period when a 5-on-3 opportunity saw Tomas Hamara and O’Brien work the puck around before finding Lardis at the far post.
The dynamic forward completed his hat trick, making him just the 41st player in OHL history to reach the 60-goal mark in a season. The Bulldogs carried a commanding 4-1 lead into the final frame.
Peterborough refused to go down without a fight. With a 5-on-3 advantage of their own, the Petes found some life. Leenders made a brilliant desperation save on Jonathan Melee, but Peterborough capitalized shortly after.
Brody Partridge fought through a net-front scramble at 11:06 to cut the deficit to 4-2. Less than a minute later, Braydon McCallum intercepted a clearing attempt and fired an unexpected shot that eluded Leenders, pulling the Petes within one at 4-3.
Despite relentless pressure from the home team, Leenders stood tall down the stretch, making 36 saves by the time the final horn sounded.
His composure helped Brantford secure the 4-3 win, propelling them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 75 points.
The Bulldogs continue their road trip on Friday, February 21, with a visit to the Kingston Frontenacs at Slush Puppie Place. With playoff implications looming, puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
