These ’Dogs need more late-game bite
Niagara suffers overtime loss to Hamilton after surrendering third-period lead
The Niagara IceDogs were ready and waiting on the doorstep when opportunity knocked, scoring three power-play goals in their home game against the Hamilton Bulldogs Thursday night.
But when the opportunity came to slam that door shut and clinch a victory, the IceDogs just couldn’t do it, twice surrendering one-goal leads in third period.
The result? A 5-4 loss in overtime that marred an otherwise strong performance against the top team in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference.
While appreciating the consolation point, head coach Billy Burke nonetheless was disappointed his team allowed the Bulldogs to get back in the game in the late going.
“You’re up twice in the third, you got to be able to close that out,” he said. “In the big picture, every point is huge, but to be up twice in the third, it’s frustrating.
“It’s a chess match, there is always something that went wrong to let them go, but we need to finish games at home.”
On the plus side Niagara finished the game 3-for-4 on the power play.
“Hopefully, this can continue into this into the rest of the weekend,” Burke said. “It certainly takes the pressure off everyone else when we can get some goals on the power play.”
Also on the plus side, another strong performance from overage forward Sam Miletic, who scored a goal and assisted on two others. Burke said Miletic’s consistency is a “huge” asset.
“He’s our best player, and he’s one of the best players in the league for sure,” Burke said. “When he’s scoring for us, other guys can find some space out there.
“He’s one of those guys who can make something happen every time that he gets the puck.
“He’s definitely a threat, and we’re really lucky to have him.”
Colton Incze allowed five goals on 42 shots, including Arthur Kaliyev’s power-play marker 30 seconds into overtime for the game-winner, but the coach found little fault in the play of his goaltender.
“No complaints on Inczer, he made some big saves for us,” Burke said. “He’s a battler, another strong performance from him.”
Niagara came into the opener of a three game in four day homestand leading Hamilton three games to none in head-to-head play this season.
Despite the disappointing setback, Burke thought his team played well against one of the top teams in the Central Hockey League.
“They’re first place in the conference, their 10th in the country, and they had to come back and score on a 4-on-3.”
The 28-22-7-3 IceDogs were back at Meridian Centre Friday night hosting the 36-21-2-1 Barrie Colts, the team they trail by nine points for first place in the division. Niagara was 1-4 versus Barrie heading into last night’s game, but Burke suggested that stat doesn’t paint the complete picture.
“I don’t think we’ve shown Barrie our best for a full 60 minutes,” he said. “We definitely owe Barrie one.”
Results were unavailable at press time but a story is posted online.
After a break Saturday the IceDogs host the Peterborough Petes in a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday.
Niagara is 1-1-1-0 versus Peterborough this season.
Ryan Moore found the back of the net on the power play to open the scoring for the Bulldogs 12:54 into Thursday night’s game.
Ben Jones, on a tip-in on Kaden Fulcher’s glove side with the IceDogs on the power play, and Akil Thomas, from the top of the left faceoff circle, put the hosts up by one midway into the second period. The goals were Jones’
21st and Thomas’ 20th of the season.
Grimsby native Brandon Saigeon tied the game at two-all beating Incze point blank in front of the net on a play that survived a video review.
Miletic, with his 32nd goal overall and 16th in the Niagara lineup, and Kirill Maksimov, with No. 31 of the season, rounded out the scoring for the IceDogs with power-play goals.
MacKenzie Entwistle’s evenstrength marker for the Bulldogs at 13:41 of the third period forced overtime.