’Dogs unable to muster much offence
Hockey was a game of inches for the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday night when they wrapped up a home-and-home series against the Battalion in North Bay.
Instead of giving Niagara a 3-2 lead, Philip Tomasino’s second goal in as many nights was disallowed following a review.
“That certainly took the wind out of our sails,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said following a 4-3 loss. “We were really buzzing, had them on their heels, had a lot of good chances.
“I thought we had a nice goal in
that transition and then it was just offside.”
Niagara had no argument with the call.
“We looked at it, it was the right call,” Burke said. “It’s just very discouraging when you work so hard, and it’s so hard to score goals there.
“To have one called back on you, it’s a big letdown. It certainly
gave them some life.”
Indeed, it did. The Battalion responded with two goals of their own.
With the come-from-behind win, North Bay wrapped up a four-point weekend that started with a 4-3 victory in overtime Friday night at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
Burke was pleased with his how team continued battling following the no-goal.
“You always have to give the guys credit,” he said. “They never stopped playing, they never quit, but it was certainly a big hill to overcome.”
Christian Sbaraglia was making his OHL debut in net for the IceDogs. Niagara selected the 17-year-old from Mississauga in the sixth round of the 2017 draft with the 105th pick overall.
“I thought he was great, I thought he settled in,” Burke said. “Obviously, it’s the hardest position on the ice.
“First game, in a new league. As the game went on, he looked more comfortable, made a couple of big saves for us and really gave us a chance to try and tie it up in the third.
“Definitely, a ton of positives for Christian.”
Another first for Niagara came on the scoresheet with Drew Hunter netting his first goal of the season. It was only the third-year defenceman’s second game back in the lineup after missing 16 games with an injury suffered in training camp.
“He’s just one of those guys who has a seeing-eye shot,” Burke said. “It was a great play for him, I’m glad he was able to get that goal.”
Having Hunter back in the lineup is “nice boost” for the IceDogs.
“He’s got good skills, he’s a good two-way defenceman for us,” the coach said.
Forwards Kirill Maksimov, the team’s leader in goals with 11, and Akil Thomas, the top ’Dog in assists with 19, were both out of the Niagara lineup. Maksimov is playing an exhibition series with Team Russia, while Thomas is recovering from an upper-body injury.
Burke conceded after Friday night’s game that having two top scorers is going to hurt any team, though not necessarily to the point of dooming a team to defeat.
“We have enough 19-year-olds in the lineup that it shouldn’t cripple us,” he said. “Some of these older guys have to give us a little bit more.”
With Russia wrapping up its exhibition series Monday, Maksimov will be back for Thursday night’s home game against Hamilton. Thomas will likely accompany the team on its road trip to Oshawa two nights later.
Tomasino, Andrew Philip on the power play and Bradey Johnson found the back of the net for Niagara on Friday.
Patrick Brown, Simon Rose and Daniel Walker scored in regulation for North Bay. Beamsville native Adam Master netted the game-winner with 1:16 remaining in regulation.
“It’s pretty good to get the monkey off my back,” the graduate of the Niagara North Stars triple A program said after ending a fivegame scoring slump.
Playing an OHL game so close to home has yet to become old hat for McMaster.
“Coming back, butterflies every time,” he said. “I can feel it in my stomach when we get off the bus.
“Even when this rink was being built, I was in The Jack (Gatecliff Arena) playing minor hockey, it’s definitely nice seeing the seats filled and playing at a higher level.”
The butterflies, he added, aren’t the “bad kind,” the type that weigh a player down with expectations.
“Unreal butterflies, the best butterflies I’ve ever gotten in my life.”
Niagara opened head-to-head play against the Battalion in with a 6-1 victory Sept. 29 in North Bay. In all, the teams will face each six times in league play this season.
’Dog Biscuits: Drew Hunter, D; made his 2018-19 debut for the IceDogs in Friday night’s game … North Bay does not have NHL draft picks on the current roster, Niagara has five: Daniel Bukac, Boston; Ben Jones, Vegas; Ivan Lodnia, Minnesota; Maksimov, Edmonton; Thomas, Los Angeles … Performing the national anthem Friday night at Meridian Centre was the Lincoln and Welland Regiment Association Band.
‘‘ “Unreal butterflies, the best butterflies I’ve ever gotten in my life.” ADAM MCMaster
Beamsville native and North Bay Battalion forward