OHL’s best Hamilton Bulldogs sweep season series against Oshawa Generals

A week off didn’t help the Oshawa Generals avoid another loss to the OHL’s best team Sunday night as the Hamilton Bulldogs rolled to a 5-3 victory and a sweep of the eight-game season series.

Hamilton outshot the Gens 12-3 in the first period and had assembled a 3-0 lead in the second period before Oshawa attempted a spirited comeback in the final stanza, getting goals from Ryan Gagnier (17), Ty Tullio (39) and Gagnier again (18).

Patrick Leaver, who has been named OHL Goaltender of the Week twice this season, made 28 saves in the Oshawa net.

“I thought we competed hard and bounced back in the final 40 minutes after a first period we wanted back,” co-coach Kurtis Foster said after the game. “It was a physical game, which is exactly how it’s going to be in the playoffs, and I thought our players elevated their game to match that intensity.”

The Generals were coming a off great run before the break with back-to-win wins against Shane Wright and the Kingston Frontenacs – their possible opponent in the first round of the playoffs – besting the Fronts 3-2 way back on April 1 and winning again two nights later, 3-2 in overtime on Tullio’s second goal of the game.

Oshawa (29-30-6) sits in sixth place in the standings with three games remaining. Ottawa is two points in arrears with two matches left while Peterborough – which clinched the final playoff spot in the East on the weekend – is also two points behind the Generals with just one game remaining on their schedule.

The Generals head to North Bay to play the Battalion on Thursday night before returning to the Tribute Communities Centre for the final two home games of the season next weekend against Mississauga and North Bay again.

Playoff tickets are already on sale.