IceDogs fall to Bulldogs
The Niagara IceDogs were unable to make an early lead hold up as they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Hamilton Bulldogs in an Ontario Junior Hockey League game Friday night in Hamilton.
The IceDogs turned in a solid effort in the first period and led 2-0 on goals by Andrew LeBlanc and Kevin He.
“We wanted to have a quick start and try to push the pace in the first five minutes,” IceDogs coach Ryan Kuwabara said. “Just executing simple plays from our D zone through the neutral zone so we can be trying to play most of the time in their end.”
The Bulldogs began their comeback with a pair of goals by Sahil Panwar and former Pelham Panther Florian Xhekaj to tie the game at 2-2. Zakary Lavoie restored Niagara’s lead with his 17th of the season at the 12:12 mark of the second period before Nick Lardis tied it back up for Hamilton with just over a minute remaining in the second.
Hamilton took a 5-3 lead with goals by Jorian Donovan and Patrick Thomas before Declan Waddick got the IceDogs back to within one with his 16th of the season to conclude the scoring.
“We seemed to take our foot off the gas and tried to force plays. That led to turnovers and miscommunication which they were able to capitalize on,” Kuwabara said.
Rookie Charlie Burns got the nod in goal and made 36 saves.
David Egorov, who has spent the majority of the season with the Hamilton Kilty B’s, made 32 saves for the win.
The IceDogs, 9-29-6-1 are home to the Kitchener Rangers Saturday at 7 p.m. and Hamilton Tuesday, Feb. 7.
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