IceDogs’ skid hits seven in a row
Rookie Pano Fimis scored his seventh of the season Sunday at Ottawa in a 5-2 loss. File Photo by: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs may be down, but head coach Billy Burke insists they are far from out.
The IceDogs dropped a pair of games over the weekend — 6-5 in overtime Saturday in Peterborough and 5-2 at Ottawa Sunday afternoon — but Burke feels it’s all part of the process with a young team.
“If there’s outside negativity and doom and gloom and counting losing streaks, it’s not on this bus,” he said. “It’s not in our room. We had 11 16-and 17-year-olds of 19 who played today. These guys are trying, they’re figuring it out. Part of the process is losing, part of the process is failing and getting up and facing adversity. All these things are going to pay off for us.
“Definitely things to work on, definitely need to improve in all areas, but the process is coming. To be honest, I feel good about this group of guys and having a strong end of the season.”
The IceDogs, who last won Jan. 25 versus North Bay, are now 10-24-2-1 and have dropped seven straight.
“There are scenarios where you’re not in games and you get blown out and that’s horrible but we aren’t there,” Burke said. “We’re competitive in every game, we had opportunities to score and it’s hard to score. It takes some seasoning. You have to get into the situations to become familiar with it.”
The IceDogs are averaging 4.59 goals-against per game, worst in the league. They are also 19th in goals scored.
“When you’re struggling to score and then giving up four, five, six a night, it’s not a good recipe,” Burke said. “Puck decisions are an issue with some turnovers and I think we need to have more bite blocking shots and clearing guys out from rebounds.”
Daniel Michaud opened the scoring for Niagara in the first period with his seventh of the season. The 67’s quickly answered with a goal from Brady Stonehouse 16 seconds later.
Brad Gardiner and Cameron Tolnai gave Ottawa a 3-1 lead after two periods. Pano Fimis’ seventh of the season early in the third brought Niagara back to within one at 3-2 before the 67’s countered with goals by Will Gerrior and Luca Pinelli to put the game out of reach.
Rookie Joey Costanzo kicked out 36 shots and held the IceDogs in the game until late in the third period.
The IceDogs were without leading scorer Danil Gushchin, who was suspended two games after he shot the puck out of play at the end of the game Saturday.
The 67’s were without Chris Barlas, who was suspended four games for his check to the head of Sami Douglas-Najem Friday.
Saturday, Gushchin led the offence with three goals and an assist while Rodwin Dionicio had a goal and three assists while Michaud also scored. Brenden Sirizzotti and Dakota Betts collected two assists each.
Josh Rosenzweig made 29 saves and took the loss in goal.
“It was a game we definitely feel we could have won,” Burke said. “Big point for us and guys battled. We had chances and hung around and just weren’t able to finish.”
Konnor Smith, Brian Zanetti, Justin DeZoete, Joe Lardis, Joe Carroll and Sam Alfano replied for the Petes.
The IceDogs are at North Bay Thursday and Sudbury Friday this week.
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