IceDogs run out of gas
Three games in three nights caught up to the Niagara IceDogs Saturday.
The IceDogs emptied their tanks but fell short, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Sudbury Wolves in Ontario Hockey League action in St. Catharines.
The loss concluded an otherwise productive weekend for the IceDogs who defeated Sault Ste. Marie at home Thursday and picked up a point in a shootout loss at Brampton Friday.
IceDogs head coach had no qualms with the effort put forth Saturday.
“Very, very impressed,” Boudreau said. “If you’re ever going to lose and be happy after a loss, you want to be proud of the effort and those kids gave everything that they had tonight. So, real bittersweet to end like that, a little bit heartbreaking. So you feel for the guys, but they gave everything they had.”
IceDogs leading scorer Kevin He admitted three in three takes its toll
“That’s a lot on the guys and we have to really take care of our bodies,” He said. “I think that’s what it comes down to. You’re bagged, you’re tired, but you find a way.”
He said players take every precaution to keep themselves as fresh as possible.
“Jump in the cold tubs to cool down and just get as much sleep as you can,” he said.
He said the IceDogs would have loved to find a way to pull out the victory in a very winnable game.
“Three in three, it’s never easy, but I think we played the right way. Obviously a disappointing loss — no one’s happy with that — but I thought the boys battled hard today,” He said. “I think for sure we wanted to pull this one out. You know, we’re not satisfied. We’re going to reset next week and come back stronger.”
Owen Flores was particularly impressive, playing all three games, which took its toll on the overage netminder, who was given an intravenous injection of fluids after seeing 100 shots in 72 hours.
“I thought he gave us a chance all the way right down to the end,” Boudreau said of Flores.
Boudreau indicated back-up netminder Charlie Robertson is getting close to returning from injury. Niagara has been using Hayden Jeffery of the St. Catharines Falcons, Finn Moffat of the Fort Erie Meteors and 2024 draft pick Matthew Humphries as backups with Robertson on the shelf.
The IceDogs have won their share of games this season with late goals, but this time were on the other end when the Wolves broke a 2-2 tie with under three minutes to play.
“Fortunately for us we’ve got (won) a lot more of these (close) games,” Boudreau said. “At the end of the day, the one thing you can control is the effort. You can’t control the breaks, you can’t control the bounces. A fluke bounce off the skate ends up in the back of the net and that’s why it’s a heartbreaker.”
The IceDogs fell behind 1-0 after one before Jack Brauti fired home his third of the year, setting off a shower of stuffed animals on the ice on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
The teams then exchanged early goals in the third period before Rowan Henderson notched the winner.
The IceDogs have a day off Sunday before getting back to work Monday in preparation for back-to-back home games Thursday versus Guelph and Friday versus Flint.
“The season doesn’t stop, the grind doesn’t stop,” Boudreau said. “We’ve got to keep going with these guys and hopefully just another day closer to getting closer to a healthy lineup.”
Forwards Alex Assadourian and Mathieu Paris are also getting close to return, Boudreau said.
Ice cubes: Charlie Robertson, Alex Assadourian, Mathieu Paris, Darcy Dewatcher and Nick Fransca (dressed for warm-up only) did not dress for the IceDogs . . . Finn Marshall, Braydon Bruce, Lucas Di Giantommaso and Ondrej Molnar were scratched for the Wolves . . . He (18), Ryan Roobroeck (16) and Ivan Galiyanov (5) scored at Brampton Friday . . . The IceDogs are 14-8-0-1 and lead the Central Division of the Eastern Conference by one point over Barrie and two over Sudbury.
STATS PACK
Wolves 4 IceDogs 2
Niagara goalie Owen Flores and Sudbury goaltender Nate Krawchuk.
Niagara IceDogs: Kevin He (19); Jack Brauti (3).
Sudbury Wolves: Kieron Walton (12); Quinten Musty (7); Rowan Henderson (4).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Nate Krawchuk (25), by Sudbury on Owen Flores (27); Power plays: Niagara 1/5, Sudbury 0/2; Penalty minutes: Niagara 8, Sudbury 14.
Attendance: 3,927.
Next up: The IceDogs are back home next Thursday to face Guelph and Friday to face Flint.
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