Scott Radley: Hamilton Bulldogs make it closer but still fall to Barrie
Saturday was a Rorschach Test of sorts to determine whether you're a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty type of Hamilton Bulldogs fan.
Half full? You're going to look at the Bulldogs' third-period performance against the Barrie Colts and say despite the fact that they were losing 6-1 - they eventually lost 6-3 - they kept fighting and scored two late goals showing a no-quit attitude.
Half empty? You're going to say that up to that point in the two games of the first-round playoff series Hamilton had been outscored 16-3, so two late goals in a game that was already gone really were essentially meaningless.
The truth? Both views can be correct.
It was indeed encouraging that the Bulldogs showed some pushback late in a game that was out of reach rather than rolling over or simply waving the white flag. This kind of thing is a sign of intestinal fortitude and shows some pride. And they were generally better throughout this game than they were on Thursday night.
It takes four wins to clinch a series. Barrie only has two. The next two games are at FirstOntario Centre. Some confidence and something positive to build on might be exactly what was needed to get off to a quick start on Sunday evening in front of the home fans and claw back into this.
That said, it has to be rather discouraging that the first two games have been so lopsided. Based on the results of the four regular-season games the two sides played this year - they split them two wins each - Hamilton had reason to believe it could compete. That hasn't happened yet.
In fact, it hasn't been close. The ice has been heavily tilted in this series so far. Largely because Barrie's Brandt Clarke has been allowed to run wild.
The Colts' captain has 10 points in the two games and has basically done whatever he's wanted to do. Deke through a bunch of Bulldogs and set up a goal? No problem. Cut across the middle and score himself? Sure. Dominate almost every time he's been on the ice? Yup.
Right now he's leading the OHL in playoff goals, assists, power play goals, power play assists, insurance goals and plus-minus. Controlling him has to be Priority No. 1 on Sunday (faceoff at 7 p.m.) if Hamilton is going to have any chance of clawing back into this.
They're not done. Saturday's pushback showed there is character on this team. If that can carry over into a quick start in Game 3, there's still hope. Jump in front, then relax and play like they have at times this year and good things could happen.
Their opponent is the third-place Barrie Colts, not the 1975 Soviet Red Army, after all. They're beatable.
But another one like this and, well, the ink blot test may offer fewer possibilities, even for the most-optimistic person out there.
Scott Radley is a Hamilton-based columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sradley@thespec.com