IceDogs drop twelfth straight
Kevin He got back on the scoresheet Thursday but it still wasn’t enough as the Niagara IceDogs dropped a 5-4 decision to the Erie Otters at the Meridian Centre.
It was the 12th straight loss for the IceDogs who last won Jan. 26 at Erie.
He, whose extended slump has coincided with the team’s struggles, scored for the first time since Feb. 7 versus Sudbury.
Overall, the Winnipeg Jets draft choice has 28 goals and 64 points in 53 games, but is well aware he needs to step it up.
“Yeah, it felt good. It was a good pass from Roobs (Ryan Roobroeck) and it ended up finding the back of the net there,” he said.
He said it’s imperative to stick to the process and things will turn around.
“Obviously everybody wants to score, it’s kind of making the right plays and keeping us it simple. I’m not trying to over-extend on some plays and trying not to be too fancy.
“I think we have to double down on the systems and just have that belief among the guys and among the group.”
He, who is in his first season as captain, feels the IceDogs can’t feel sorry for themselves.
“We just have to make sure we come ready tomorrow, one day at a time, one shift at a time,” he said. “That’s the tone that we need to set and that’s what we need to do.”
The IceDogs looked as though they may finally get back into the win column, jumping out to a 3-0 start by the 14-minute mark of the first period.
“Just keeping it simple, not trying to do too much, not trying to make those extra plays and having a good F3 (third man in zone) and those little things came in clutch for us,” He said.
The Otters began their comeback with late goal in the first before scoring two early goals in the second to tie the game at 3-3. Erie took a 5-3 lead on a goal by former IceDog Pano Fimis in the third before the IceDogs quickly retaliated 28 seconds later with a short-handed goal by Ivan Galiyanov.
“We had that fight, we kept going and kept pushing until the end. I think that was a really strong push back from us,” He said.
Rookie Matthew Humphries got the call in net after taking the night off Wednesday in a 5-1 loss at Owen Sound and turned back 29 shots. Humphries also made a few eye-popping saves, including a spectacular diving stop in the first period.
“I think it’s great, everyone saw that save he made in the first,” He said. “He’s been unbelievable for us and I think today was one of his best games. He’s going to continue to grow and continue to be better for us and I’m excited.”
Things don’t get any easier for the IceDogs who welcome the league-leading London Knights (45-8-2) Saturday.
The IceDogs dropped a 5-1 decision at Owen Sound Wednesday. St. Catharines Falcons Hayden Jeffery made his first OHL start and faced 28 shots. Jeffery dressed as backup Thursday.
Ice cubes: Owen Flores, Charlie Robertson, Rafek Dianov and Charlie Hotles were scratched for the IceDogs . . . Michael D’Alessio, Carey Terrance, Malcolm Spence, Keagan Knight, Andrew Wills, Matthew Schaefer and Gabriel Frasca did not dress for the Otters . . .The Memorial Cup was in attendance at the game for a private function.
STATS PACK
Otters 5 IceDogs 4
Niagara’s Ivan Galiyanov and Erie’s Martin Misiak.
Niagara IceDogs: Kevin He (28); Mike Levin (13); Ivan Galiyanov (8); Mathieu Paris (5).
Erie Otters: Martin Misiak 2 (17); Pano Fimis (25); Callum Hughes (8); Alex Messier (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Noah Erliden (27), by Erie on Matthew Humphries (34); Power plays: Niagara 0/2, Erie 1/7; Penalty minutes: Niagara 22, Erie 12.
Attendance: 3,544
Up next: Home to London Saturday at 7 p.m.
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