Thursday Highlights: Winners finish strong
HAMILTON 8 – BARRIE 3
Fifth-year veteran Niki Petti (16, 17, 18) sniped the first hat-trick of his OHL career as the Hamilton Bulldogs buried five third period goals in an 8-3 win in Barrie. Hamilton’s sixth straight victory also featured a goal and two assists from rookie Connor Roberts (6) while Michael Cramarossa (17), Matthew Strome (31), Marian Studenic (17) and Jack Hanley (3) also had goals. The Bulldogs went 3-for-6 on the power play, outshooting Barrie 34-28. Curtis Douglas (3), Zach Magwood (15) and Lucas Chiodo (20) all scored for the Colts while rookie blueliner Tyler Tucker earned third star recognition with a pair of assists. Bulldogs blueliner Reilly Webb was plus-3 in his season debut. The win puts Hamilton ahead of Kingston for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
GAME CENTRE
PETERBOROUGH 3 – KINGSTON 1
Carolina Hurricanes prospect Steven Lorentz (23, 24) scored the game winner with 8:09 to go in the third period as the Peterborough Petes downed the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 3-1. Edmonton Oilers prospect Dylan Wells earned first star honours with 25 saves while Adam Timleck (14) also scored for Peterborough as the Petes won their third straight. The Petes outshot the Frontenacs 45-26, finishing the season series with a 6-2-0-0 record against Kingston. Though the Generals hold a game in hand, the Petes take sole possession of first place in the East Division, improving to 35-17-2-3. Fifth-year Petes defenceman Brandon Prophet became the first OHL player in the 2016-17 season to suit up in his 300th career regular season game.
GAME CENTRE
WINDSOR 4 – SAGINAW 1
Aaron Luchuk (22) and Gabriel Vilardi (24) each had a goal and an assist as the Windsor Spitfires defeated the visiting Saginaw Spirit 4-1. Adam Laishram (12) and Graham Knott (13) also had goals as the Spits won their third straight game and pulled to within a point of first place Sault Ste. Marie in the West Division. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Keaton Middleton (3) opened the scoring for Saginaw, but that’s all the Spirit would manage as Michael DiPietro turned aside 16 of 17 shots in the Windsor victory. The Spirit trail eighth place Sarnia by five points with 10 games remaining on the regular season schedule.
GAME CENTRE
OWEN SOUND 5 – KITCHENER 0
Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven stopped 21 shots to record his sixth shutout of the season as the Owen Sound Attack blanked the Kitchener Rangers 5-0 on the road. The Attack improve to 6-1-0-0 against Kitchener on the season as 2017 NHL Draft prospect Nick Suzuki (31, 32) had two goals and an assist while Kevin Hancock (27), Matthew Struthers (9) and Jonah Gadjovich (37) also found the back of the net. Owen Sound went 3-for-3 on the power play, outshooting Kitchener 35-21 to pull to within two points of second place London in the Midwest Division.
GAME CENTRE
