Unlucky 13 for IceDogs
The Niagara IceDogs dropped a 4-0 decision at home Thursday to the Flint Firebirds. Photo by: OHL IMAGES.
Thursday’s matchup between the Niagara IceDogs and Flint Firebirds featured two teams headed in decidedly opposite directions.
The Firebirds came in as the hottest team in the Ontario Hockey League with 13 straight wins while the IceDogs were mired in a 12-game losing streak.
The trends for both teams continued as the Firebirds blanked the IceDogs 4-0 to run their winning streak to 14 games while the IceDogs have now dropped 13 straight.
The IceDogs haven’t won since Jan. 23 while the Firebirds haven’t lost since Jan.18.
Niagara still holds down the eight and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by one point over Kingston. The Frontenacs can move past the IceDogs and into a playoff spot with a win at home Friday versus Oshawa.
IceDogs coach Billy Burke was already in position underneath the stands and ready to greet the media before they even arrived from the press box.
His message was all too familiar.
“I even said to the guys, I feel stupid saying the same things over and over,” Burke said. “Turnovers, neutral zone turnovers, blueline turnovers — we’re not asking these guys to split the atom, we’re just asking them to play in a straight line and be hard to play against.
“They’ll do it for a little bit, then they won’t do it. Where we’re at right now is it needs to be every time. If it’s not, it’s either a goal against or a huge chance against.”
The Firebirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one period and then added one more in the second to lead 3-0 after 40 minutes.
Falling behind early has been another point of contention for Burke.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” he said. “It’s the same things every night.”
Burke acknowledged the challenge posed by the Firebirds, but wasn’t about to throw in the towel before the game even started.
“We wanted to end that streak by being hard to play against,” he said. “The last time I checked North Bay was beating Ottawa 5-2 (the Battalion upset the 67’s 6-2) so anyone can beat anybody but you need to play as a team and play together.”
Burke said despite the prolonger slump, he feels the mood of the team is as good as could be expected under the circumstances.
“Guys are being positive when they can be, but it’s frustrating. Guys don’t want to lose every night, no one wants to lose every night.”
St. Catharines native and former St. Catharines Falcon and Ridley Tiger Riley McCourt put on a show for his hometown fans with three assists. McCourt, who was named the game’s first start, is having a standout season for the Firebirds. The mobile rearguard came into the game with 17 goals and 53 points.
Ice cubes: Lucas Theriault (lower body), Cameron Peters (month to month), Ryan Campbell, Tucker Tynan and Josh Rosenzweig did not dress for Niagara . . . Luke Cavallin, Tyler Deline, Jack Harper, Zachary Giroux, Ethan Keppen and Ryan Bangs were scratched for the Firebirds . . . IceDogs forward Jonah DeSimone was the academic player of the month for January. DiSimone maintains an 86 per cent average at Governor Simcoe.
Firebirds 4 IceDogs 0
BPSN Star of the Game: Flint defenceman and St. Catharines native Riley McCourt with three assists.
Niagara IceDogs: No scoring.
Flint Firebirds: Evgeniy Oksentyuk 2 (29, 30); Connor Roberts (17); Braeden Kressler (6).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Anthony Popovich (25), by Flint on Andrew MacLean (44); Power plays: Niagara 0-for-4, Flint 2-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 10, Flint 8.
Attendance: 4,629.
Up next: The IceDogs take to the road for their next three games beginning Sunday afternoon in Guelph.
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