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. Kansas City Royals Store . Carling Bassett-Seguso was a world No. 8 almost 30 years ago. Currently 13th, Bouchard is assured of equalling that when the next rankings are released Monday. Kansas City Royals Shirts .C. -- Charles Oakley, one of the NBAs all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas. https://www.cheaproyals.com/.9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . The rookie is rewarding their faith with a stellar first season. MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Jamie McGinn had two goals and an assist, and Colorado beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Saturday. Cheap Royals Jerseys . You can watch the game on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt and listen to the game on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. After starting the month of November on an 0-3-1 slide, the Canadiens have recorded wins in three of their last five outings (3-1-1).(SportsNetwork.com) - Life isnt always fair. At 3-7-1 on the season the Carolina Panthers are just one-half game out of first place in the dreadful NFC South. Conversely the Minnesota Vikings are a tick better at 4-7 and all but dead and buried in the tough NFC North. The Panthers will arrive in the Twin Cities well rested and coming off an always advantageous late bye week, something made even more sweet when the rest of the NFC South -- New Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa Bay -- lost in Week 12 while Cam Newton and Co. were watching. Currently the Saints and Falcons are tied atop the division at 4-7 with the Bucs bringing up the rear behind the Panthers at 2-9. Carolina is a step behind Atlanta because of a 19-17 Week 11 home loss to the Falcons in which Matt Bryant connected on four field goals, including a 44- yarder late in the fourth quarter to lift Atlanta. Newton struggled for much of the game, but did have two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and finished the game 23-for-37 for 292 yards with two interceptions for the Panthers, who have lost five straight overall after tying a game against Cincinnati in Week 6. Weve just got to play better, as a team, as a group and take that challenge personally, said Newton. I know Im better than how Im playing. We just have to get things going. Newtons second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter had given the Panthers a 17-16 lead with 6:20 to play. The Falcons Matt Ryan, though, was able to get his team into scoring position, thanks in part to three receptions by Harry Douglas for 29 yards. Bryant booted the 44-yarder in with 2:08 to play for a 19-17 lead. The Panthers were able to get into field goal range on their ensuing touch, thanks in part to catches of 15 yards and 17 yards from Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin, respectively. Graham Gano, though, missed a 46-yarder just to the left with 1:22 to play. This was a tough one to swallow, said Carolina head coach Ron Rivera. I talked to the players about this and told them were still in the middle of it, believe it or not, but weve got to start taking care of our own end first. In Minnesota, things havent gone as expected this season under first-year coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings were planning to lean on MVP candidate Adrian Peterson running behind veteran Matt Cassel at quarterback with second-year stud Cordarrelle Patterson serving as an over the top threat outside the numbers. Instead Petersons personal issues have taken him out of the equation, Cassel broke his foot early in the season and Patterson has not developed, leaving Zimmer relying on a trio of rookies, QB Teddy Bridgewater, running back Jerick McKinnon and receiver Charles Johnson. Despite that Minnesota has remained very competitive and gave Green Bay, perhaps the NFCs best team, all it could handle in Week 12 before eventually succumbing 24-21. Bridgewater went 21-for-37 for 210 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Packers. McKinnon ran it 15 times for 54 yards and Johnson had three catches for 52 yards and a score, along with a two-point conversion. Im proud of the way the guys fought today, said Bridgewater. We fell short and didnt make enough plays to win this game, but the effort was there. We just have to continue to get better each week and be a consistent football team. The Vikings lead their all-time series with Carolina 6-5 but the Panthers have won two of the past three, including a 35-10 blowout last season when Newton threw for 242 yards and accounted for four TDs (three passing, one rushing). WHAT TO WATCH FOR Besides the obvious issue of not having Peterson, many of the Vikings offensive issues stem from the poor play of the offensive line, particularly the left side where left tackle Matt Kalil is having a disastrous year and left guard Charlie Johnson has only been a bit better. Kalil, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft who was a Pro Bowl player as a rookie, refused to comment after he was called for three penalties in the Vikings loss to the Packers. Honestly, it was hard for me to see, Zimmer said.dddddddddddd The times when I watched him, (Kalil) seemed to be doing okay, but my eyes are looking at their coverage and the blitzes that theyre doing and Teddy (Bridgewater). After the contest, however, Kalil was videotaped knocking a hat off a fan who had criticized his play. I usually shrug off that stuff, Kalil said. Fans like to talk and say some things, but thats just something that I could have been a bigger man and walked away from. But it really wasnt that big of a deal. (The fan) just caught me when I had a short fuse that day. Meanwhile the strength of the group, the right side, is now entirely gone after right tackle Phil Loadholt tore his pec against Green Bay last weekend. The big Oklahoma product joins right guard Brandon Fusco, who also tore a pec earlier this season, on the sidelines. The incident (Sunday) with the media thing and the fan, obviously a lot of frustration, losing a game like that, losing Phil in the game to injury and stuff like that, Kalil said. So obviously I was a little upset, but I hope you guys didnt take anything personally. It was just one of those days, so I apologize for that. All of that means Minnesota offensive coordinator Norv Turner will be scaling back things even further with significant playing time for all three tight ends -- Kyle Rudolph, Rhett Ellison and Chase Ford -- with the intent on getting extra help for both Kalil and Mike Harris, a waiver pickup before the season who will replace Loadholt. The Carolina defense isnt what it was in 2013 when the team finished 12-4 and won the NFC South, allowing 374.0 yards per game, good for 25th in football. The group, however, is well set up to handle a Vikings attack which rarely stretches the field and, when it does, isnt all that effective because Bridgewater lacks accuracy down the football field. Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who leads the NFL with 436 tackles since entering the league in 2012, should be able to handle Minnesotas run game and when the Vikings offense gets one-dimensional, things can get ugly. Minnesota comes in ranked 30th overall on offense with only the NFLs two one- win teams, Jacksonville and Oakland worse. On the offensive side, the Panthers will certainly be helped by the extra rest because Newton clearly wasnt right physically before the bye. Carolina has had its own issues with the offensive line, however, with yet another change looming for Sunday with Amini Silatolu, a natural guard, in line to replace the injured Nate Chandler at right tackle. It will be the sixth different group the Panthers have used up front in six games. Our team is kind of banged up right now, especially losing a right tackle now, Silatolu told the Charlotte Observer. Its just up to us for the next person to step up. The Vikings are much improved defensively from the group that was torched by Cam in 2013 (12th overall) but the unit still struggles at times with situational football and bigger receivers, something that could signal a big day for 6-foot-5 rookie wideout Benjamin, who has 52 catches for 768 yards and leads all freshman with eight TD catches. Its not about accepting anything. Its just realizing you have to be better, Newton said. You cant get down on yourself because youre not getting the results. If anything you just got to keep going back to the lab and working on your craft and your product, and make that art shinier. OVERALL ANALYSIS The Panthers were likely sitting at home last week amazed that they are still in the NFC South race and the fact that this game actually means something for them, along with the Vikings dismal offensive line, should be the difference here. We control our own destiny, but this destiny is no easy catch, Newton said. We have to be men about this. We have to be professionals about this and weve got to set the standard for ourselves to play at. And anything less than that is unacceptable. Sports Network predicted outcome: Panthers 21, Vikings 17 ' ' '