IceDogs take out Petes to regain first place
The Niagara IceDogs bounced back from a tough loss at home Sunday to defeat the Peterborough Peters 5-2 in Ontario Hockey League action Monday afternoon in Peterborough.
Coupled with a 3-2 shootout loss by the Sudbury Wolves at Oshawa, the IceDogs are back on top of the Central Division by one point. They have also officially clinched a playoff spot.
“It was a huge win for sure,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said. “It was the first time all year where we saying things like, ‘This is the biggest game of the year.’ ”
The IceDogs started off quickly, collecting four goals in the first period.
“We came down (to Peterborough) last night and wanted to give the guys every opportunity to play their best and I thought they did a great job responding by having a great first period and then were rock solid from there,” Burke said.
Philip Tomasino led the offence with a pair of goals while Ben Jones, Jason Robertson and Daniel Bukac added singles.
Stephen Dhillon made 32 saves in the for the win.
Cameron Butler and Brady Hinz replied for the Petes.
The IceDogs were coming off a tough 5-4 loss to Sudbury Sunday afternoon before 5,540 fans.
The game was tied 2-2 after one period before the Wolves struck for three goals in the second to open up a 5-2 lead. Niagara then rallied with two late goals in the third to close the gap to 5-4.
“Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted and it’s time for results and not moral victories, I thought we did do lot of good things versus Sudbury we were able to build on,” Burke said. “We felt there were positives to build on from all three games.
“We’re getting our structure and our identity back. That’s what we’re going to need to carry us the rest of the way.”
Jones, Robertson, Tomasino and Akil Thomas scored for Niagara.
Macauley Carson, Owen Robinson, Shane Bulitka, Nolan Hutcheson and Adam Ruzicka replied for the Wolves.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen made 47 saves in goal to earn the win.
Dhillon turned back 19 shots in goal for the IceDogs.
Saturday in Erie, the IceDogs broke out of a four-game losing streak with an emphatic victory.
The IceDogs broke open a 1-1 game with four goals in the second and three more in the third.
Jones, Robertson, Thomas, Oliver Castleman, Matthew Philip, Drew Hunter and Kyen Sopa scored for the IceDogs.
Jack Duff netted the lone Erie goal.
Dhillon made 20 saves for the win.
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