Written By: Kyle Akitt (@JustKyle51)
Photo Credit: Brandon Taylor/OHL Images
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The IceDogs were back in action Thursday night at the Meridian Center as they hosted the Erie Otters for the first time this season. This would mark the first game for Erie facing an out of country team in the IceDogs, as they have spent the first couple of games playing the other American teams, the Flint Firebirds and the Saginaw Spirit. Erie also coming into this game as the first Western Conference team facing the Niagara IceDogs this season but trailing at the bottom of the standings with a 2-6-0-0 record. Niagara looked to take advantage of this and bounce back from a rough weekend last week against Hamilton and Peterborough.
The IceDogs before the game announced Dakota Betts and Daniil Gushchin as the new assistant captains to the team, although, the IceDogs would be without their veteran defencemen Betts, as he is still sideline with an Lower-Body injury. Returning to the IceDogs lineup from injury though was forward Cameron Snow, a key piece in the dogs lineup and they looked to inject him right into it during this game.
STARTING LINEUP:
Jake Uberti (CENTER),
Danil Gushchin (LEFT-WING) ,
Cameron Butler (RIGHT-WING),
Landon Cato (DEFENCE),
Isaac Enright (DEFENCE),
Josh Rosenzweig (GOALIE).
ATTENDANCE: 3,408
Photo Credit: Brandon Taylor/OHL Images
FIRST PERIOD
The IceDogs didn't exactly come out of the gate starting on time, which saw this being a problem in the last game versus the Peterborough Petes. The dogs struggled to get the puck out of their own end and could not stop the offensive pressure from the Otters. This would come to bite the dogs early as Vancouver Canucks prospect forward Connor Lockheart would score to make it 1-0 early in the period. Erie would continue the pressure on offence until later in the period, taking a few penalties to derail their momentum but found their way back on the powerplay and back on the scoresheet with Otters forward Brendan Hoffmann scoring and making it a 2-0 game. The IceDogs did not have any luck for the rest of the period in trying to get on the scoresheet which even saw San Jose Sharks prospect Daniil Gushchin get sent in on a breakaway but not capitalizing on the scoring chance.
SECOND PERIOD
The IceDogs looked to try and erase that period from memory but Erie would not make it easy for the Dogs as Brendan Hoffmann would score his second goal of the game on a tip shot to make it 3-0 and the IceDogs would find themselves in a deep hole not even halfway through the game at this point. The IceDogs would continue to struggle as the period went on taking more penalties, including a 4 minute high sticking and not making it easy on themselves to get back into the game. It would be on one of those penalties that Otters Defenceman Spencer Nova would put it past Rosenzweig and make it a crushing 4-0. IceDogs would finally find a stroke of luck as a tip from Daniil Gushchin in front that confused Otters goaltender Nolan Lalonde would find the back of the net to get the dogs on the board making it a 4-1 game. The luck train would continue to go through the Niagara as another powerplay came the IceDogs way and forward Brice Cooke would score to make it 4-2 and the IceDogs would finally start to get some offensive pressure going, heading into the third period.
THIRD PERIOD
If the IceDogs were looking for a great period start, this was it. 2 minutes in Aiden Castle was sprung in with a lead pass and puts the puck in the back of the net to make it a one goal game at 4-3. The IceDogs would continue the pressure after this with chance after chance but not being able to find the back of the net. The IceDogs would then get tied up in their own end and Connor Lockhart from the Otters would put the puck past a sprawling Rosenzweig and Erie would regain the two goal lead at 5-3. The bark would still not be out of dog in this one though as IceDogs forward Cameron Snow scored his first goal of the season to bring the dogs back within one goal.
Jersey House Player of the Game: Aiden Castle
Photo Credit: Terry Wilson/OHL Images
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