IceDogs fall to Otters
The Niagara IceDogs shot themselves in the foot in more ways than one Thursday night.
The IceDogs took a couple of untimely penalties, gave up twice as many shots as they took, and even managed to score into their own net as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Erie Otters in an Ontario Hockey League game played at an empty Meridian Centre.
The loss drops Niagara’s record to 10-19-1-1. They remain in last place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, six behind the Sudbury Wolves who hold down the eighth and final playoff spot. The IceDogs hold a whopping six games in hand.
“It was a really frustrating night,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “I never really felt like we got it going, got a groove going.
“We had too many passengers for long stretches. As a group, we just didn’t do enough to win.”
Burke would have liked the IceDogs to be more assertive.
“We just didn’t have that killer instinct. Definitely had an opportunity here we let slip by,” he said.
Erie fired 42 shots at Josh Rosenzweig, who once again turned in a solid effort.
“I think that (42 shots) was an issue tonight,” Burke said. “We weren’t hitting, we weren’t pinning. They were getting shots through, secondary opportunities, so I just thought if you’re being a passenger in the D zone you’ll never get the puck back.
“It wasn’t a total throw away disgrace, but we definitely need to be better.”
The IceDogs were without leading scorer Danil Gushchin, who was suspended by the OHL for his head check on North Bay goaltender Dom DiVincentiis Tuesday. DiVincentiis was injured on the play and forced to leave the game.
“He’s suspended indefinitely and the league is going to look at it,” Burke said.
Burke wasn’t going to use that as an excuse.
“He’s our best player, one of the best players in the league — arguably the best player in the league — obviously it’s going to be a hit but it’s a great opportunity for other guys.
“Everyone has to step up. It can’t be one guy thinking he’s going to be Danil Gushchin, no one is going to be Danil Gushchin, but if every guy plays to the best of their ability and plays together with structure, then we like our chances against anybody, regardless of who’s in the lineup.”
Following a scoreless first period, things heated up considerably in the middle period as each team scored three times — once each with the man advantage. Included in the outburst was Daniel Michaud’s first goal with the IceDogs since being acquired from Oshawa. Michaud had been held off the scoresheet in his first four games in Niagara.
Erie outshot Niagara 18-7 in the period to held a 31-14 edge in shots after 40 minutes.
The Otters netted the winner with a power-play goal early in the third when Brendan Hoffman’s pass in front of Rosenzweig was inadvertently knocked in by IceDogs forward Brandon Sirizzotti.
The IceDogs are off Friday before hosting Hamilton Saturday and travelling to Mississauga Sunday afternoon in what will surely be a test against two top teams.
“Hamilton is obviously rolling and so is Mississauga,” Burke said. “They are two of the best teams in the league. It won’t be easy for us so we have to make sure we’re dialled in and playing together.”
Ice cubes: Gushchin (suspension) and Sami Douglas Najem did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Aiden Campbell, Nathan Sauder, George Alboim, Lucas Ross and Cameron Lowe were scratched for the Otters. Lowe, a native of Niagara Falls, has four goals and five points in 30 games for Erie . . . Former Thorold Blackhawk Brett Bressette is having a solid season for the Otters with 10 goals and 24 points in 32 games.
STATS PACK
Otters 4 IceDogs 3
Niagara’s Aiden Castle and Erie’s Christian Kyrou.
Niagara IceDogs: Aiden Castle (8); Daniel Michaud (5); Anthony Agostinelli (3).
Erie Otters: Connor Lockhart 2 (14, 15); Brendan Hoffman (12); Christian Kyrou (9).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Nolan Lalonde (21), by Erie on Josh Rosenzweig (42); Power plays: Niagara 2-for-6, Erie 2-for-5; Penalty minutes: Niagara 12, Erie 14.
Attendance: Not permitted.
Up next: Home to Hamilton Saturday at 7 p.m. At Mississauga Sunday at 2 p.m.
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