Spitfires rally past IceDogs
It is scary to think where the Niagara IceDogs would be without Owen Flores this season.
The 20-year-old netminder has been the IceDogs most consistent and valuable player, turning in standout performance after standout performance.
Flores was front and centre once again Sunday afternoon, kicking out 35 shots as the IceDogs dropped a tough 4-3 overtime decision to the Windsor Spitfires in St. Catharines.
IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau said a deep dive into the numbers proves how valuable Flores has been this season.
“When you look at the analytics on Sportlogiq, the same system that we use in the NHL, he’s got the most saves in the league, he’s played the most minutes. Our expected goals against, we are ranked 20th — we were expected to give up the most goals — compared to what we actually do, it’s sixth. That just talks about not only Flores, but (Charlie) Robertson involved there.”
Flores made saves on a least three clean-cut breakaways and had no chance on the winner as Liam Greentree scored with the man advantage when he hoisted a perfect backhand into the roof of the net just 50 seconds into overtime.
Afterwards, Flores sat in his crease for a few moments before finally making his way off the ice.
Boudreau is well aware the IceDogs must tighten up in their own end going forward.
“We’re a highly offensive team that struggles defensively after 40 games,” he said. “I think you can kind of see that. As a coach, you have to identify where you’re weak and try to continue to get better. Nine goals against on Friday, 13 goals against on a weekend isn’t going to cut it come playoff time.”
The IceDogs are at their best when they take care of their own end first, which creates opportunities for their powerful offence.
“Everything was supposed to be team oriented,” Boudreau said. “The only time we get in trouble is sometimes when we think about ourselves and defensively we’ve got to find a way to commit to a few things. I thought we did it for a long stretch of the game where we committed to defensive hockey and it really showed for us.
“It’s a five-man style, you have to have your forwards holding up, you have to have a forwards blocking shots. On the game-tying goal, it would have been lovely to have a blocked shot and not even allow it to get to the net and we didn’t get it. When you put pucks on net, good things are going to happen and that’s what kind of came back to bite us in the rear end.”
It was a tough weekend for the IceDogs who dropped a 9-4 decision at London Friday.
“I think we gave them way too much respect. By the time we took a breath and opened up our eyes, I think it was 4-0,” Boudreau said. “And after that, we wanted to come out and win a period and then it was 7-0 in the first three minutes of the second. That team was better than us in every single facet and I think we respected them too much.”
The Ontario Hockey League trade deadline is Friday at noon, but Boudreau isn’t concerning himself with that.
“Coach the guys that you have,” he said. “Right now this is a good group. I know we’ve lost four of five games, but right before the break we were 7–0-1.
“When you look at it, we’re still a pretty young group. Are you going to beat the Londons, are you going to beat the Kitcheners, are you going to beat the Barries or Oshawas, that are all loading up with 20 and 19 year olds and you want to think that, but right now we’re winning hockey games. I’m not too sure if we’re going to interrupt anything with our team, If we do, great, and if we don’t, great. Let’s find a way to make the most out of it.”
Ice cubes: Rafek Dianov, Darcy Dewatcher, Nick Frasca and Charlie Hotles did not dress for the IceDogs . . . The Spitfires have won eight in a row . . . The IceDogs game in Owen Sound Saturday was postponed due to inclement weather and travel conditions and will be made up at a later date. The team bus had already left and were about an hour out when the game was postponed . . . Ryan Roobroeck (27), Kevin He (25), Max Crete (9); Blake Arrowsmith (7) scored in London.
STATS PACK
Spitfires 4 IceDogs 3 OT
Niagara’s Owen Flores and Windsor’s Liam Greentree.
Niagara IceDogs: Ryan Roobroeck (28); Max Crete (10); Noah Van Vilet (3);
Windsor Spitfires: Liam Greentree (29); Ethan Belcjetz (12); Josef Eichler (2) Tanner Winegard (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Niagara on Michael Newlove (34), by Windsor on Owen Flores (39); Power plays: Niagara 0/3, Windsor 2/6; Penalty minutes: Niagara 16, Windsor 12.
Attendance: 3,531.
Next up: The IceDogs are back home to Saginaw Thursday night then head to Sudbury Friday.
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