Win streak snapped
Young IceDogs no match for Kingston’s size and experience in first loss in six games
The effort was there though not the execution when the Niagara IceDogs, a young team on the rise, hosted the Kingston Frontenacs, a veteran squad arming itself for a Memorial Cup run.
“I thought the guys were ready to play, they came out hard, had chances,” head coach Billy Burke said after the 8-3 loss. “But a couple of breakdowns in the offensive zone, which led to rushes up ice and they have some high-end scorers that will make you pay.”
Despite the score, the IceDogs can take a lot off positives from Sunday afternoon’s game at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, the coach said.
“I don’t think it was bad game, honestly,” Burke said. “We played hard.
“Four out of six points, it’s a winning weekend that ends on a bad note, but the effort was there.”
The IceDogs came into the game confident that they match up well against Kingston, but Burke conceded the Frontenacs have the edge in size as well as in experience.
“They’re big, fast, skilled,” he said. “That’s what a legitimate championship contender looks like.
“We’re a threat in our conference and a threat to win our division, but I wouldn’t call us a legitimate championship contender right now.”
A loss that snapped a five-game winning streak can’t help but be a learning experience for an IceDogs
We’re a threat in our conference and a threat to win our division, but I wouldn’t call us a legitimate championship contender right now.” Niagara IceDogs head coach Billy Burke
team with many players in only their second year in the Ontario Hockey League.
“You see how dangerous they (the Frontenacs) are when they get an opportunity,” Burke said. “That’s what it takes if you want to be a team that has its eye on the Memorial Cup.”
Kingston outshot Niagara 13-4 and took a 3-0 lead into the second period on even-strength goals from Gabriel Vilardi, with two, and Jason Robertson.
Danial Singer put the hosts on the scoreboard with a power-play goal 6:15 into the second period.
Ben Jones had a golden opportunity on a breakaway to make it a one-goal game but Jeremy Helvig denied him with a glove save.
The Frontenacs regained any momentum they may have lost on those plays with power-play goals from Robertson and Sean Day and an even-strength marker from Linus Nyman to go up 6-1.
Colton Incze replaced Stephen Dhillon between the a pipes to start the third period after the IceDogs starter allowed six goals on 27 shots.
Kirill Maksimov, on the power play, and Matthew Philip opened the scoring in the third period, but that would be as close as Niagara would get in its comeback attempt.
With 12 minutes remaining in the frame, Maksimov, the team’s scoring leader with 25 goals, got a five-minute penalty as well as a game misconduct for a check to the head. Robertson and Brett Neumann scored on the ensuring power play to clinch the 8-3 victory.
The IceDogs outshot Kingston 19-14 in the middle frame, but, aside from Singer’s 19th goal of the season, couldn’t find the back of the net despite several quality chances.
Kingston was especially adept at clearing rebounds and denying Niagara second-chance scoring opportunities.
It was the third game in headto-head play between Niagara and Kingston this season. The IceDogs tripled the Frontenacs 3-1 Dec. 8 in Kingston avenging a 4-2 loss at home in the opening game of the season series.
Niagara was playing at home for the second time in less than
24 hours. Philip scored twice in regulation and defenceman Drew Hunter 2:36 into 3-on-3 overtime in a 3-2 victory over the Sudbury Wolves.
It was the IceDogs’ second win a row over the Central Division cellar-dwelling Wolves who still lead the season series three wins to two, seven points to four.
Shots on net were 42-33 for Sudbury, which finished Saturday night’s game 1-for-3 on the power play. Niagara was 0-for-4 with a man advantage.
Picking up the win was Incze, who lowered his goals-against average to 2.84 while increasing his save percentage of .912 with his 40save performance.
’Dog Biscuits: Niagara had four 16-year-olds in the lineup in the first Sunday matinee of the season at Meridian Centre … Liam Ham, defence; Bradey Johnson, centre; and William Lochead, defence; did not dress for the IceDogs, who called up defenceman Daniel Nadri from the Fort Erie Meteors … Defenceman Joshua Dame is no longer with the IceDogs … Kingston added four NHL draft picks on the eve of the trade deadline bringing the number of prospects to six … Performing the national anthem was Momentum Choir.