IceDogs losing streak mounts
Daniel Michaud had two goals and an assist Sunday as the Niagara IceDogs dropped a 5-4 decision at Mississauga. Photo by: OHL IMAGES.
The Niagara IceDogs dropped a pair of games on the weekend as their losing streak reached 10 games.
The IceDogs lost 5-4 at Mississauga Sunday afternoon following a 6-2 defeat at home versus the Kingston Frontenacs Saturday.
The IceDogs remain in the basement of the Ontario Hockey League standings with an 8-25-6-1. They trail the Sudbury Wolves by 16 points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Their last victory was Dec. 31 at Erie.
Niagara trailed 2-1 after one and 4-2 after two before a wild third period that saw the IceDogs cut the lead to 4-3 before the Steelheads went ahead 5-3 on a power-play goal with two minutes to play. Niagara then scored again with 21 seconds to play to narrow the gap to 5-4.
“I love our guys compete and work effort,” IceDogs coach Ryan Kuwabara said. “They always play hard and compete every day they come to the rink. We are a resilient group.”
The IceDogs were called for 23 minutes in penalties, including a five-minute major to David Jesus for cross checking with just over five minutes remaining to play. Jesus was also called for a minor for a check to the head on the same play and given a game misconduct as well.
The Steelheads were called for just one minor penalty in the game and took advantage scoring twice on eight chances with the man advantage.
Kuwabara declined the opportunity to comment on the officiating.
Daniel Michaud paced Niagara with two goals and an assist while Alex Assadourian and Andrew LeBlanc also scored.
Josh Rosenzweig was pummelled with 57 shots, including 21 in the second period. Niagara managed just 17 shots on Ryerson Leenders.
Saturday at home, the IceDogs fell behind 5-0 before finally getting on the board.
Owen Outwater and Gabriel Frasca each had two goals for the Fronts while Nathan Poole and Maddox Callens added singles.
Declan Waddick and Zakary Lavoie scored for Niagara.
Rookie Charlie Burns made his OHL debut in net and made 24 saves in net.
The IceDogs are home to Pano Fimis and the Erie Otters Thursday and the North Bay Battalion Saturday.
Ice cubes: The IceDogs continue to be plagued with the injury bug with Owen Flores, Landon Cato, Gerard Keene, Anthony Agostinelli, Juan Copeland and Andrew Wycisk out of the lineup.
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