Opening the final week of the season on home ice, the Brantford Bulldogs returned to the Civic Centre after a four-game road sweep, facing the surging Brampton Steelheads for the last time this season.
The Bulldogs were without captain Patrick Thomas due to illness, while Braeden O’Keefe rejoined the lineup after completing his season with the Niagara Falls Canucks.
The Steelheads capitalized early, striking at 5:13 when Porter Martone netted his 33rd goal of the season off a rebound. Brampton’s aggressive start continued with Gabriel Chiarot doubling the lead at 8:03, and Martone adding another on a shorthanded breakaway, making it 3-0 by the end of the first period.
The second period saw the Steelheads extend their lead. Konnor Smith, Aiden Lane, and Kieran Witkowski each found the net, pushing the score to 6-0.
The Bulldogs responded at 15:07 with a goal from defenseman Thomas Budnick, his seventh of the season.
After facing 33 shots through two periods, Bulldogs goaltender Ryerson Leenders was replaced by David Egorov, who stopped 12 of 13 shots in relief.
Jack Van Volsen notched Brampton’s final goal, while Aiden O’Donnell added a late tally for Brantford, ending the game at 7-2.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday, March 21, traveling to Kingston’s Slush Puppie Place. A victory would secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
