IceDogs suffer first loss of the season
The Niagara IceDogs tasted defeat for the first time this season Sunday afternoon in Peterborough.
The IceDogs fell behind in the first period as they dropped an 8-4 decision to the Petes in an Ontario Hockey League game at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
The IceDogs are now 3-1 after winning their first three games of the season.
“It wasn’t too bad,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “We controlled play for large stretches but (Dylan) Wells played really good and Peterborough did a good job of blocking shots which gets frustrating.”
The IceDogs fell behind 2-0 before the halfway mark of the first period. Adrien Beraldo got the Petes on the board with a wrist shot from just inside the blueline that evaded Colton Incze. It was Incze’s first start of the season after Stephen Dillon played the first three games. Peterborough made it 2-0 two minutes later when Adam Timleck scored on another wrist shot.
Niagara answered back quickly when Kiril Maksimov scored his third of the season when he blasted a one-time past Wells on the power play. The IceDogs had a four-minute power play later in the period but were unable to capitalize.
Each team collected nine shots on goal.
Peterborough added to their lead with a pair of early goals in the second by Jonathan Ang and Pavel Gogolev to take a 4-1 lead. Akil Thomas then replied for the IceDogs to cut the lead to 4-2 after two.
Niagara began mounting a comeback in the third when Thomas scored his second of the game early in the period before Zach Shankar netted his first as an IceDog a minute later to even the game at 4-4.
But before the IceDogs could use any of the momentum from that goal and try and take their first lead of the game, the Petes went back up just over a minute later on a goal by Tyler Rollo.
“The breakaway to make it 5-4 killed our momentum after we came out flying in the third to tie game,” Burke said.
The Petes then netted the final three goals of the game.
It was the first time this season the IceDogs had to play three games in as many days.
“It’s tough to turn around and hop on the bus for the third game in 2.5 days, especially when you play a good team like Peterborough back to back, but I thought the guys had energy and were ready to play,” Burke said.
Burke certainly isn’t disappointed to see his team take three of their first four games.
“All in all we’re happy where we are and we keep building to be better next weekend,” he said.
Ice cubes: The game was late starting by about 10 minutes and experienced a couple of delays due to issues with the ice. A boxing event was held at the Memorial Centre Saturday night . . . The IceDogs host the Sudbury Wolves Thursday at 7 p.m. . . Niagara held a 42-31 edge in shots . . . Both teams had two goals with the man advantage in seven opportunities.
