IceDogs one win from advancing
The Niagara IceDogs jumped on the North Bay Battalion early and then hung on for a 5-3 victory Thursday night at the North Bay Memorial Gardens.
The IceDogs now lead the Ontario Hockey League best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final playoff series 3-1 and can wrap up the set with a win at home Friday in Game 5. Game 6, if necessary, would be back in North Bay Sunday.
“It was a hard fought game for sure. It was a game we controlled and they got a couple of late ones to make it interesting on us,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “You can’t take you foot off the gas until it’s over.”
Burke would love nothing more than to see the series come to an end on home ice Friday.
“It’s Game 7 tomorrow. We absolutely have to finish these guys,” Burke said. “I’ve spent enough time in North Bay until next year, that’s for sure.”
Drew Hunter kicked off the scoring with his first of the playoffs halfway throw the first before Jack Studnicka added his third of the post-season a minute later. Niagara held a 12-9 lead in shots in the first.
Philip Tomasino gave the IceDogs a 3-0 lead early in the second before the Battalion finally got on the board later in the period when Luke Moncada scored. In between, Akil Thomas hit the post on a penalty shot at the 12:57 mark.
Late in the period, there was a fracas in front of Niagara goalie Stephen Dhillon involving Daniel Walker.
“They want to play physical. That’s all I can say about that,” Burke said.
Oliver Castleman made it 4-1 late in the third before Brad Chenier, at 18:43, and Theo Calvas, at 19:20, drew the Battalion to within one at 4-3 before Elijah Roberts scored into an empty net at 19:43.
The IceDogs held a 48-26 edge in shots and also scored a pair of goals with the man advantage.
The Battalion went 0-for-8 on the power play.
Matthew Philip suffered what appeared to be a serious injury, but Burke said the winger was alert after the game and in good spirits.
“It was scary,” Burke said. “He dove to break up a breakaway and the heel of a stick hit him in the chin and he was cut above the eye. He was taken off on a stretcher but we got good news. He was alert and had all his movements and knew where he was and remembered what happened.
“It appears to be a best-case scenario.”
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