IceDogs rebound against Otters

Another game against the Erie Otters. Another comeback from a two-goal deficit. Another two points in the standings.

What does all of that add up to for the Niagara IceDogs?

Sole possession of first place in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.

The IceDogs scored four unanswered goals on their way to 5-3 victory over the Otters Saturday night in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Niagara’s third win in a row, and third in as many nights, improved the team’s record to 24-12-3-3.

Coupled with the Barrie Colts’ 3-0 loss to the visiting North Bay Battalion, Niagara’s second comefrom-victory moved the IceDogs two points ahead of Barrie, 24-15-2-1, in the five-team division.

Niagara also has a game in hand. Erie out shot Niagara 13-8 in the first period and took a 1-0 lead on a powerplay goal from Gera Poddubnyi 12:40 into the game.

Shots in the second were 12-11 in favour of the IceDogs, with each team finding the back of the net twice.

Team captain Johnny Corneil’s 11th goal of his over-age season tied the game at one-all at the 1:51 mark of the second.

Erie regained the lead and went up by one on goals from Patrick Fellows and Chad Yetman before the IceDogs made it a 3-2 game heading into the final period on Ben Jones’ 16th marker of the season.

It was all Niagara after that. The IceDogs outshot their hosts 11-5 in the final frame and rebounded from a two-goal deficit to Erie for the second game in a row on goals from Corneil, his second of the night, Philip Tomasino and Sam Miletic.

Colton Incze made 26 saves for the win to improve to 3-4 as Niagara outshot Erie 31-29. Miletic, acquired for draft picks from the London Knights on the trade dealine for over-age players, has scored four goals and collected three assists in his first three games with the IceDogs.

Niagara went 0-for-3 with a man advantage, while the Otters finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play.

On Thursday night on their home ice, the IceDogs came back from 4-2 deficit and edged the Otters 5-4 in a shootout.

Niagara came into the game 7-3 in its last 10 games and leading the season series with Erie three wins to one, six points to five. The Otters were 2-4-2-2 in their last 10 games and were seeking to end a four-game losing slide.

’Dog Biscuits: Adrian Carbonara and Kirill Maksimov were out of the Niagara lineup serving suspensions ... Otters forward Christian Girhiny, 19, of Thorold came into the game with eight goals and 10 assists in 40 games. He collected an assist in Saturday’s loss ... Defenceman Kurtis Henry, 17, of Niagara Falls has two points in 21 games in his rookie season in the OHL with Erie.