Petes’ success in overtime continues
Nick Robertson scores in extra frame for 4-3 win over visiting Bulldogs
The Peterborough Petes continue to thrive in overtime.
The Petes improved to 4-0 in overtime this season on Nick Robertson’s breakaway goal 1:42 into extra time to defeat the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3 on Thursday night. The 3,073 fans at the Memorial Centre delivered 1,693 stuffed animals to the ice for the annual Teddy Bear Toss, 300 more than last year.
Matt McNamara stole the puck in the Petes’ zone and sent Robertson down the ice all alone where he roofed a backhand deke to secure the Petes (17-12-0) their fifth win in six games.
Robertson also also added two assists giving him seven goals and 12 points in six games since returning from a wrist injury. Adam Timleck also scored twice.
The Petes’ third-ranked penalty kill got them through a Hamilton five-on-three advantage in the first half of the opening period. They say the goaltender is a team’s best penalty killer and Hunter Jones illustrated that with three saves on Grade A scoring chances during the short-handed situation including one off a deflection.
The teddy bears came flying from the stands with 7:43 left in the first period when Timleck bulged the twine. He fired a shot short-side on goalie Nick Donofrio capping a three-way passing play on the rush from Nick Rob- ertson and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.
After an eight-minute delay to clean up the stuffed toys the same line came close to making it 2-0 but instead Hamilton popped a pair 53 seconds apart for a 2-1 lead.
A John Parker-Jones giveaway led to Avery Hayes getting a shot and Navrin Mutter banging in the rebound at 13:22. Parker-Jones took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the goal and Nicolas Mattinen blasted a point shot on the power play that squeaked past Jones on the blocker side at 14:05.
The Petes came close on their first power play of the game early in the second period. Chris Paquette one-timed a shot that snuck through Donofrio’s legs but slid through the crease and out the other side.
Timleck’s second goal of the night tied it at 7:04. Robertson filtered a pass through two Bulldogs to spring Timleck on a three-on-one and as he cruised in on the wing he blew a slapshot over Donofrio’s shoulder.
Mattinen restored the Bulldogs’ lead 10 seconds into a power play snapping Brandon Saigeon’s draw back to the point at 13:51.
The Petes waited to the last second to tie it heading into intermission. Liam Kirk put Brady Hinz’s pass in the net with 0.7 seconds left in the period on a power play.
Cole Fraser did not return with his teammates for the third period after suffering an injury late in the second.
The Petes will visit the first place Ottawa 67’s 2 p.m. Sunday.
NOTES: Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman and ex-Pete Chris Pronger was in attendance on Thursday night. Pronger works for the Florida Panthers as a special advisor to general manager Dale Tallon. Pronger said he was in town to do some scouting. He met up prior to the game with his former Petes’ defensive coach Jeff Twohey… The Petes made one lineup change on Thursday inserting Cameron Supryka and removing Adrien Beraldo… The three stars were 1. Adam Timleck (P); 2. Nicolas Mattinen (H); 3. Nick Robertson (P)… The hardest working Pete was Austin Osmanski.