IceDogs fall flat
Too little, too late.
The Niagara IceDogs dropped a 3-1 decision to the Mississauga Steelheads in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday night in St. Catharines.
It was the second straight defeat for the IceDogs who were coming off a 6-1 loss at Ottawa Sunday. The IceDogs, 32-11-7, last dropped two in a row in early January to London and Erie and one of those defeats was in overtime.
“We’re just in a rut right now,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “You hoped it would be a one-off but it carried over (from Ottawa).”
Burke didn’t mince words when dissecting the effort.
“It was kind of (like) hoping someone would do the work and get me the puck instead of everyone working hard to get it,” he said. “It’s too bad but we have to work out of it.”
Burke said the mood in the room was reflective following one of the team’s poorest efforts of the season.
“There is certainly belief we can turn it around. It’s a tough time of year but they’re pretty down on themselves and pretty quiet,” he said.
Burke realizes the last thing the IceDogs should do is play the pity card.
“There’s not a lot of people outside the room and their families who are going to feel sorry for us or want us to pick ourselves up,” he said. “We need to find a bit of an attitude and go on the road and go win two games.
“I think these guys will bounce back. We’ll have a good road trip and get it going again.”
Mississauga held a 13-10 edge in shots in a scoreless, lacklustre first period.
The Steelheads collected the game’s first goal halfway through the second period when Cole Carter netted his 30th of the season on a power play. The IceDogs were shorthanded when Oliver Castleman was given a five-minute match penalty for slew footing. Burke said the club will send the game film to the league to try and have the call overturned, but is not hopeful. A slew foot penalty carries an automatic two-game suspension.
Carter then netted his second of the game before James Hardie made it 3-0 before the end of the period. Mississauga held a 38-19 edge in shots after 40 minutes.
Kirill Maksimov finally got the IceDogs on the board in the third with his 31st of the season. Jack Studnicka then appeared to bring Niagara to within one at 3-2 with 6:33 remaining but the goal was quickly called back after replays clearly showed the puck hit the crossbar.
It was that kind of night.
Ice cubes: Jacob Paquette (day to day), Andrew Bruder (week to week) and Ivan Lodnia (week to week) were scratched for the IceDogs . . . Isaac Walker, Jake Cella, Callan Christner and Charlie Callaghan did not dress for the Steelheads . . . IceDogs defenceman Drew Hunter turned 20 Wednesday . . . The Steelheads entered the game as the least penalized team in the Eastern Conference . . . Jason Robertson collected an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games . . . Niagara’s Academic Player of the first semester was Jordan DiSimone, who is averaging 92.5 per cent in Grade 11 and 12 courses at Governor Simcoe . . . IceDogs director of player development Rob Hubbert was among those honoured for their battle with lymphoma . . . Former IceDog Liam Ham collected an assist in the second period and has six goals and 24 points this season.
Steelheads 3 IceDogs 1
BPSN Star of the Game: Mississauga forward Cole Carter with two goals.
Niagara IceDogs: Kirill Maksimov (32).
Mississauga Steelheads: Carter 2 (30, 31); James Hardie (11).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Jacob Ingham (30), by Mississauga on Stephen Dhillon (44); Power plays: Niagara 1-for-5,Mississauga 1-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 13, Mississauga 12.
Attendance: 4,645
Up next: At Sault Ste. Marie Saturday and Sudbury Sunday.
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