IceDogs unable to corral Barrie Colts
Hmm, haven’t we seen this before?
Perhaps a little more than a week ago?
If the start of the Niagara IceDogs’ road game against the Barrie Colts Saturday night seemed like déjà vu or a not-so-instant replay, it was.
As was the case Friday, Jan. 12, at Meridian Centre, the Colts galloped out of the gate dominating play by outshooting their hosts 19-5 and taking a lead into the second period.
Unlike that game, which ended with Niagara finishing strong to take 6-3 decision, the IceDogs weren’t able to come all the way back in the rematch.
This time out the Colts kept the pedal slammed down to the metal outshooting Niagara 52-23 on their way to a 6-2 victory.
Final score flattered the visitors with two Barrie goals waived off following video reviews.
The IceDogs lost their third in a row as the Colts moved one point ahead of Niagara for first place in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.
Barrie outshoot 18-5 in the opening period and took a 2-0 lead into the second period on goals from Joey Keane and Kyle Heitzner.
Dmitry Sokolov scored on the power play less than a minute into the second period, and the Colts almost added another seconds later. A video review showed while Zach Magwood’s shot found the back of the net, the puck crossed the red line after Niagara defenceman Liam Ham crashed into the net knocking it off its moorings.
Ham was assessed a delay-of-game penalty on the play.
Johnathon Schaefer beat Leo Lazarev on a highlight-reel backhand for his first goal of the season to put the IceDogs on the scoreboard at the 10:45 mark of the second.
It became a one-goal game two minutes later when Akil Thomas, with Niagara on the power play, netted his 12th of the season.
The IceDogs were five seconds away from trailing by only one after two when Lucas Chiodo scored in heavy traffic in front of the Niagara net to make in 4-2 Colts.
Shots in the second period were 21-12 for Barrie.
A goal from Sokolov was waived off due to goaltender interference before the Colts regained a three-goal lead on Aaron Luchuk’s league-leading 36th of the season.
Sokolov rounded out the scoring in the game with his second of the night.
The IceDogs, 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games, were coming off a 3-2 road loss in overtime to London Knights and hoping to snap a two-game losing streak and. The Colts, 4-6 in the previous 10, also were coming off a road loss, 5-1 to the Mississauga Steelheads.
Game 4 in the season series between Niagara and Barrie was a battle for first place in the Central Division. Coming into the game the IceDogs, 24-13-4-2; led the Colts, 2516-2-1; by one point with a game in hand.
Division rivals play six games in all against each other in head-to-head play in the regular season. The Colts opened with the season series with 6-1, at home; 5-3, on the road; before dropping a 6-3 decision Jan. 12 at Meridian Centre.
’Dog Biscuits: All four games in head-to-head play between Niagara and Barrie this season have ended with the winner scoring at least five goals … The IceDogs are in Barrie Saturday, Feb. 17, and host the Colts Friday, March 2, to wrap up the series … Niagara has yet to outshoot Barrie in a game this season.