IceDogs flat in loss to Sudbury Wolves
Billy Burke had a bad feeling about this game all week.
The Niagara IceDogs head coach knew the Sudbury Wolves would be a hungry club when they entered Meridian Centre, winless, Thursday night.
Burke’s feelings proved right as the Wolves (1-3-2-0) dominated a very non-engaged looking IceDogs team 5-2 in front of 4,030 fans.
It was Niagara’s (3-2-0-0) first home loss of the season.
“We were very, very flat right from the start,” Burke said.
“We tried to stress all week that Sudbury hadn’t won and they would be hungry, they would be desperate and we can’t let them come in and outwork us, and that’s exactly what they did.”
Sudbury opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the game, and led 2-1 after one period of play and 5-1 heading into the third.
“Guys were cheating all over the place, and lazy getting back,” said Burke.
“Guys thought it was point night. We’d come in, and we’ve won three games so we can do whatever we want. But we won those games for a reason, and lost this one for a reason.”
IceDogs starting goaltender Stephen Dhillon was pulled at the end of the second period after allowing five goals on 20 shots.
Colton Incze was perfect on the 10 shots he faced in the third.
The one positive for Niagara was rookie Andrew Bruder’s first career OHL goal in the final minute of regulation.
The IceDogs now embark on a four-game road trip starting Friday night in Oshawa.
“You would hope we can turn it around quickly. I still believe in the guys 100 per cent with their character and their care, and I’d bet my house that we’ll come back with a much better effort tomorrow,” Burke said. “You have to learn from it. It’s a hard league, and if you don’t show up you’ll lose every night.
“I’m glad this (happened) early in the season, work through it, and maybe we use this as a teaching tool for the rest of the year.”
’Dog Biscuits: Jukka Schotter, Joshua Dame, Andrew Somerville, Drew Hunter Zach Shankar and Ryan Smith were scratched for the IceDogs Saturday night … Smith and Somerville were both placed on waivers by the team … Shankar has been suspended four games for after receiving a match penalty for slashing last weekend in Peterborough … Kirill Maksimov received a five-minute match penalty for slew-footing midway through the third period Thursday, and will also be facing a minimum two-game suspension … Burke hinted that rookie Ian Martin will slide back into the lineup for Maksimov tonight in Oshawa … It was the first time Dhillon allowed more than one goal in a game this season, as he entered with a 3-0 record, 1.00 goals against average and .967 save-percentage … Dhillon appeared to be interfered with on the Wolves third goal, but it was deemed to be non-reviewable … Dhillon will likely return between the pipes tonight.