Brandon Caputo
(@BCaputo_AGM)
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The Niagara IceDogs travelled to Barrie for a Thursday Night matchup and their first trip to Sadlon Arena this season, for what was an important battle for the divisional matchup in December, with the game being broadcasted nationally through TSN+ as the teams sat only two points apart atop the Ontario Hockey League's Eastern Conference standings.
The first of two big matchups against Central Division opponents in Barrie and Brampton before Niagara hit their Holiday Break. A few accolades for Niagara’s side as Captain Kevin He was fresh off signing his NHL Entry-Level Contract with the Winnipeg Jets earlier in the week and Cogeco Player of the Week Ryan Roobroeck was recognized following a strong 3-0 northern road trip this past weekend and a 9-point output overall.
The potent Barrie Colts team came in with nine NHL drafted players but had Cole Beaudoin, Beau Akey, and Emil Hemming were all away at the World Juniors, with Niagara’s lineup being almost fully healthy, with the returns of Mathieu Paris and Alex Assadourian over the past few weeks.
IceDogs defencemen Jack Brauti and Blair Scott would play their first games back in Barrie since the big 3-way offseason trade that sent Tristan Bertucci to Barrie and Artem Frolov and Urban Podrekar to Flint, with Scott and Brauti heading Niagara's way.
Owen Flores would start his 19th game in the last 20 contests for Niagara, while Rafek Dianov was scratched after warmups. Charlie Hotles, Nick Frasca and Darcy Dewachter would be the other scratches for the IceDogs on this night.
GAME RECAP
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The Colts would get on the board early as Carter Lowe takes the pass from behind the net off a loose puck and rips one short side on Flores to open the scoring less than five minutes into the contest.
Niagara would even it up as Alex Assadourian came down the left wing with speed and fired one far side on Hrebik off the post and in for his eighth goal of the season, with assists going to Kevin He in transition off the Owen Flores save.
Captain Kevin He would then come down the left wing and almost from the same spot as Assadourian wrist one post and in on Hrebik to give Niagara the lead, first goal after signing his Entry-Level deal and 24th of the season.
Mathieu Paris would leave the game in a lot of discomfort after taking a hit and favouring his right shoulder, who would luckily return for the second period ready to go. A sigh of relief for Niagara's side.
On the next shift Niagara responds for their fallen teammate as good net front presence by Niagara leads to chances for Ivan Galiyanov and finally put away by Sean Doherty to extend the IceDogs lead to 3-1, with their fourth line chipping in with production.
The teams would go 4on4 and it was Andrei Loshko with another late stunner for Niagara on the rebound to give Niagara a 4-1 lead going to the room on the Seattle Kraken prospect’s 18th goal of the season.
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Riley Patterson would take the pass from behind the net and make it 4-2 overtop of Flores with 13:29 to play in the middle period.
Blair Scott would be shown an early exit after a hit in the neutral zone on Carter Lowe would be considered a kneeing major penalty, ending his return to Barrie prematurely. Barrie would score immediately off the face-off to begin the major powerplay, cutting the lead to 4-3 but would not allow anything further.
Niagara would snag the momentum back as Callum Cheynowski would tip the Alex Assadourian point shot in front of the net, scoring his first goal of the season and being mobbed by his teammates as a result with less than five minutes to play in the middle period. The goal later credited back to Assadourian, with Cheynowski receiving an assist.
No scoring in the final period until Patterson gets one by batting away a rebound on the doorstep after Owen Flores had made a huge paddle save, which the Colts scored with the goalie pulled.
A timeout with an offensive zone face-off for Barrie with 1:40 remaining in regulation, needing a goal but Andrei Loshko with a good play to break up the chance and find Alex Assadourian for the empty netter and eventual third goal of the game as Callum Cheynowski’s goal was credited to Assadourian to complete the hat trick performance for the veteran centreman.
Tristan Bertucci would score for the Colts again with the goalie pulled to make it 6-5 but Niagara would hold on to tie Barrie for the Central Division lead and points atop the Eastern Conference with one game to play before their Christmas break.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS
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Niagara IceDogs head coach Ben Boudreau spoke postgame about staying hungry despite the success of winning six straight games and tying Barrie for top spot in the Central Division.
“You just look back from where we were a year ago, and we've come so far, but we don't want to stop,” Boudreau said. “We've got one game before closeout, closing out the first half of the season technically before Christmas going into a break and we are extremely pleased just not yet satisfied here. We want to remain hungry, keep our pedal down on the floor.”
Niagara’s bench boss talked about getting contributions from all lines in the victory, with his hottest line of Ryan Roobroeck, Ethan Czata and Blake Arrowsmith being held off the scoresheet after an offensive explosion last weekend.
“In regards to our household names, 15 games, 30 points is no joke for Ryan Roobroeck as we saw his streak come to the end; an incredible run for those guys on on an offensive standpoint,” Boudreau said. “I knew Czata was feeling sick and he battled through it, just coming off a sickness myself I know how that feels, so a lot of credit to him to help the team win.”
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Boudreau spoke about the line matching and taking advantage of a team that may not have as much depth right now with players away for Barrie at the World Juniors.
“When you know you're looking if your top line's not going because they did get the top match up yet again and I found that interesting that they chose to match their top line against those guys rather than Loshko and Assadourian,” Boudreau said. “When you do that a line like Loshko’s or Assadourian’s out against the second or third line more their depth players, that’s where you saw them really take advantage as far as our offensive guys against their depth players.”
“So, you know, the more depth that we have right now, especially when it comes to scoring, the more we can take advantage of teams that may not be as deep and it was great to get contributions from that fourth line with Crete, Doherty and Galiyanov finding a way to inject some life into us there in the second period.”
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Boudreau also talked about the game getting close at the end with Barrie scoring twice with the goaltender pulled and holding on for the 6-5 victory despite having a three goal lead after the first period.
“They got loads of talent, there's no question and they have an unbelievable coach, general manager in Marty Williamson who has had nothing short of an incredible amount of success,” Boudreau said. “You look at all that and you try to put it together and you know that you're going to be in for one no matter who you have in the lineup on the other side and even a 4-1 win thinking it's comfortable it ends up 6-5, we've seen that time and time again.”
“The other team didn't want to give up they pushed all the way to the end and you got to give a lot of respect to those guys so for us we're really proud of our effort and we're almost there to put our feet up and have a little break with family and friends, but the job's not done just yet.”
“For us, the the main thing is getting two points at the end of the night and we did that,” Boudreau finished.
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HockeyStickMan Player of the Game:
Alex Assadourian 3 goals +3 rating
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