IceDogs fall in Oshawa
Niagara IceDogs captain Cam Butler scored his first of the season Friday in a 5-3 loss at Oshawa. Photo by: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs fell back to the .500 mark following a 5-3 loss at Oshawa in Ontario Hockey League action Friday night.
The IceDogs, coming off a dramatic 8-5 win at home versus former coach Marty Williamson and the Barrie Colts Thursday, are now 3-3.
IceDogs coach Billy Burke said there were plenty of positives to take out of the effort.
“It was a good game,” Burke said. “We played well and had over 50 shots. You can’t be upset. We outshot them 2-1 so you have to give them credit, they were very opportunistic with some great shots, really picked some corners.”
Burke said the effort level was where it needed to be.
“I’m proud of these guys, they worked hard, worked together. They had a lot of Grade A chances and maybe didn’t quite get the bounces, but at lot of positives to build on for sure.”
Burke feels the execution is coming along.
“The execution continues to get better every week, every game,” he said. “It’s very encouraging that way.”
The IceDogs are right back at it at home Saturday night versus the Mississauga Steelheads.
“The big test is now finishing this weekend, it’s very important that we go home and take care of business and then it’ll be a great weekend,” Burke said. “Right now it’s a fine weekend, but we have to make sure we have another big effort and really stick together. It’s going to be a tough one tomorrow, and we have to try to find a way to get it done at home.”
Oshawa jumped out to a 3-1 lead after one period, which was the difference in the game.
Danil Gushchin, coming off a hat-trick Thursday, added two more for Niagara while captain Cameron Butler netted his first of the season.
Matthew Buckley, Ty Tullio, Matthew Hill, Brett Harrison and Ryan Gagnier, into an empty net at 19:24 of the third, scored for the Gens.
Rookie Joseph Costanzo made 30 saves in goal for the IceDogs.
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