HAMILTON, Ont. -- The Hamilton Bulldogs are focused on keeping their composure period by period as their season winds down. Christian Thomass second-period goal stood as the winner and Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves as the Bulldogs defeated the Abbotsford Heat 2-1 on Wednesday in the American Hockey League. "Tonight we stayed composed, even when we thought we had another goal in the third period," said Hamilton head coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "We kept working, and we have to get used to playing those tight hockey games. "Thats what gets you to the playoffs, and thats what helps you win hockey games when you get there." A post-season berth is far from Hamiltons grasp, however. The Bulldogs remain 10 points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with just 14 games to play. Mike Blunden and Gabriel Dumont also scored for Hamilton (27-30-5). Chris Breen had the lone goal for the Heat (34-23-7), who have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Aaron Dell stopped 36 shots. Michael Bournival made his debut for the Bulldogs on Wednesday, having been sent to the team by the Montreal Canadiens a day earlier on a conditioning assignment. After playing 50 games for Montreal in his rookie season, the forward suffered a concussion in a Feb. 6 game against the Vancouver Canucks, and was cleared for contact on March 14. His insertion in the Bulldogs lineup provided a much-needed boost to the top line, and the combination of Bournival, Sven Andrighetto and Thomas used its speed to great effect against the Heat in the first period. Thomas was very pleased with the lines first game together, and felt comfortable playing alongside Bournival, who he came across several times at the junior level. "Its always tough playing with a new guy, but (Bournival) fits in really well and brings a lot of speed," he said. "Ive known him for a long time, and grew up playing with him at world junior camps. "Ive seen him quite a bit, and obviously he has some NHL experience. But he plays a hard game and that always helps your line." Hamilton was getting the best of play, but it was Abbotsford that opened the scoring at 8:56. Ex-Bulldog Corey Locke controlled the puck below Hamiltons goal-line, and connected with the open Breen as he glided into the high slot. The defenceman released a mid-range wrist shot that Tokarski only partially connected with, and the puck trickled over the goal-line. It was Breens first goal of the season. Pressure did eventually pay off for Hamilton, as Blunden stole the puck from Abbotsford defender Shane OBrien to create an equalizing goal. The winger moved in alone on Dell and shifted from backhand to forehand before lofting a shot over the far shoulder of the goaltender at 17:55. Blunden nearly scored his second of the game with 10 minutes to play in the second period, as Dell kicked a Morgan Ellis slap shot from the point out to his right and the winger narrowly missed a tap in attempt at the post. Thomas did better with Hamiltons next scoring chance, as the Bulldogs took the lead at 12:42. After a period and a half of successful forechecking, Hamiltons top line got on the board when Bournival fought off a defender along the right wing and fired a low wrist shot that Dell knocked into the path of Thomas to his right. The rookie winger did the rest, slotting a quick shot past the sprawling goaltender from close range. Consecutive penalties to Nathan Beaulieu posed a late challenge for the Bulldogs, but their penalty killing unit responded well to hold the lead through 40 minutes of play. Hamilton entered play on Wednesday with an 18-0-1 record when leading after two periods. Tokarski did his part to preserve the lead, snatching a Max Reinhart wrist shot out of the air from point blank range with just under six minutes to play. His save was rewarded at the other end of the ice, as Dumont was awarded a penalty shot after being tripped with a clear path to the net, and made good on the chance. Slowly skating toward Dell, Dumont stopped abruptly and shifted to his forehand to tuck the puck in behind him at 16:01 of the third period. Neither team made use of their power plays on Wednesday, as Hamilton went 0 for 2 while Abbotsford was 0 for 3. Mike Pouncey Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. http://www.chargersfansofficial.com/caleb-sturgis-jersey/. - The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned pitchers Kyle Drabek, Chad Jenkins and Sean Nolin to triple-A Buffalo. Virgil Green Chargers Jersey . He scored two highlight-reel goals in a three-minute span -- the second on a sideways bicycle kick in the 78th minute -- to give the Whitecaps a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers before a crowd of 20,303 at B. Kyzir White Jersey . Gauteng High Court Judge Dunstan Mlambo ruled Tuesday that South African media houses will be allowed to install three remote controlled cameras in court for the Olympic athletes trial starting next week to capture images that likely will be seen by millions around the world.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hi Kerry, As Im sure youve seen, in Sundays game in Chicago between the Blackhawks and the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago made an unfortunate gaffe resulting in an own goal with their goalie out of the net for an extra attacker. As the puck slid toward the open net, Oilers forward Mark Arcobello gave chase while Blackhawks defenceman Nick Leddy tried to prevent it from crossing the goal line. Arcobello, unable to touch the puck because of the Oilers delayed penalty, changed course to slow Leddy down enough to ensure the puck went in the net. Leddy really didnt have a chance at stopping the puck, so his being slowed down made no difference. But I was wondering, had it been a close play, where Leddys path to the puck would have made the difference between a goal and a save, would Arcobello have been penalized for going out of his way to prevent Leddy from accessing the puck? A disallowed goal? Interference penalty (in addition to the delayed one)? Or would that have been a legal play? Josh BernierWinnipeg, Manitoba Hi Josh, It was a bizarre play when Patrick Kane put the puck into his own unguarded net during a delayed slashing penalty called against Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk. Kanes intended back-pass to the blue line travelled the entire length of the ice and split the wicket well before Blackhawks defenceman Nick Leddy could reach the puck. You bring up an interesting point with regard to a potential interference call on a play such as this when Mark Arcobello sprinted across the path of Nick Leddy. You correctly stated Josh, that Leddy was unable to get to the puck in advance of it crossing the goal line in spite of Arcobellos minimally invasive action. The fact that Leddy could not have gotten to the puck in time however, should have no bearing on whether an interference penalty was warranted. As I am sure you recall, the standard of enforcement for Rule 56 (Interference) changed drastically in the 2006 season following a return from the first NHL lockout in a concerted effort to eliminate what was then referred to as "obstruction". Lets examine the language and application of Rule 56 as it might apply to this situation. • A sstrict standard on acts of interference must be adhered to in all areas of the rink.dddddddddddd • Body position shall be determined as the player skating in front of or beside his opponent, traveling in the same direction. • A player is allowed the ice he is standing on (body position) and is not required to move in order to let an opponent proceed. A player may "block" the path of an opponent provided he is in front of his opponent and moving in the same direction. Moving laterally and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference. • A player is always entitled to use his body position to lengthen an opponents path to the puck, provided his stick is not utilized (to make himself "bigger" and therefore considerably lengthening the distance his opponent must travel to get where he is going). • A player delivering a "pick" is one who moves into an opponents path without having body position, thereby taking him out of the play. When this is done, an interference penalty shall be assessed. On this play, Arcobello executed a perfect, legal, "moving pick" when he sprinted to gain the ice in advance of Leddy and continued to move through that ice with very minimal alteration to his speed and direction. It was especially important that physical contact with the Hawks player did not result. These were crucial components with regard to the legality of the play since Arcobello cut laterally across the path of his opponent as opposed to travelling in front of or beside and in the same direction of Leddy. If Arcobello, after deliberately moving laterally across the path of Leddy, had slowed considerably, stopped or made contact with Leddy, an interference penalty would have been deserved whether Leddy could have prevented the puck from entering the net or not. If that were to have taken place, the referee should immediately blow his whistle and assess a penalty to Arcobello for interference in addition to the delayed penalty signaled to Dubnyk. The subsequent goal would then be disallowed. As we moved forward from 2006, the expected standard of enforcement regarding interference is that the illegal act should be penalized in all cases as opposed to the result or consequence to the play! Cheap Celtics JerseysWholesale Nets JerseysCheap Knicks JerseysCheap Stitched 76ers JerseysRaptors Jerseys ChinaCheap Bulls JerseysWholesale Cavaliers JerseysPistons Jerseys ChinaPacers Jerseys ChinaCheap Bucks Jerseys OnlineWholesale Hawks JerseysCheap Hornets JerseysWholesale Heat JerseysCheap Magic Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Wizards JerseysNuggets Jerseys ChinaTimberwolves Jerseys ChinaCheap Thunder Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Blazers JerseysWholesale Jazz JerseysCheap Warriors Jerseys For SaleCheap Clippers JerseysLakers Jerseys ChinaWholesale Suns JerseysCheap Kings Jerseys AuthenticCheap Mavericks JerseysRockets Jerseys ChinaCheap Grizzlies JerseysWholesale Pelicans JerseysSpurs Jerseys China ' ' '