Betts nets overtime winner for IceDogs
Dakota Betts put an end to the drama early in North Bay Thursday night.
The veteran defenceman scored just 22 seconds into overtime to give the Niagara IceDogs a much-needed 7-6 victory over the North Bay Battalion in Ontario Hockey League action.
The victory halted a three-game losing streak for the IceDogs, who improved to 7-16-0-1.
“A real big and timely win for us tonight,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “Every guy pulled his weight and helped us get it done.”
The goal put an end to a wild, see-saw of a game that saw the lead change hands back and forth several times.
Niagara grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the first period when Rodwin Dionicio netted his second of the season. Brandon Coe tied things up five minutes later and Mitchell Russell followed with his 15th of the season to put North Bay up 2-1. Danil Gushchin’s 17th of the season gave Niagara a 2-2 tie after one.
Jake Uberti’s sixth of the season put the IceDogs up 3-2 early in the second before Michael Podolioukh and Matvey Petrov scored to give the Battalion a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Things really got crazy in the third period as Niagara scored three times to North Bay’s two goals. Dylan Roobroeck netted his first OHL goal for the IceDogs while Uberti added his second of the night before Alec Leonard, with 1:38 remaining, gave the IceDogs a short-lived 6-5 lead.
Mitchell Russell sent the game into overtime with a goal at 19:04. Coe also scored in the third for North Bay.
“It was great to see Dylan get his first goal and Joey Costanzo (26 saves) get his first win,” Burke added. “Three goals from our D was huge as well.”
Joe Vrbetic kicked out 40 shots in a losing effort.
The IceDogs are at Sudbury Friday and home to the Battalion Saturday at 7 p.m. to wrap up the schedule for the Christmas break.
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