Not enough catches on fishing trip

Steelheads edge Niagara in penalty- filled game; Incze ‘ outstanding’ in net for IceDogs

There was no lack of company for penalty box attendants at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, where the Steelheads hosted the Niagara IceDogs.

With the two Ontario Hockey League teams combining for 23 penalties in the Sunday matinee, the referees had little time to catch their breaths after blowing whistles to stop the action in a game that lacked little, if any, flow; let alone, much 5- on- 5 action.

Niagara was assessed 34 minutes in penalties; Mississauga, 30 minutes.

IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said there were only 45 seconds in the third period when the teams were at even strength.

“It’s crazy, I’ve never seen it like that before,” said Burke, an assistant coach for eight years before taking over head coach duties at the beginning of this season. “There was no flow.

“It certainly sucks the life of out of you for sure.”

The final result and two missed opportunities to clear the puck out of harm’s way, both of which wound up in the back of the IceDogs net nothwithstanding, Burke was impressed with his team’s performance.

“I thought we played hard, guys stuck to the game plan,” he said. “The effort was there, the compete level was there from the guys. “There were a ton of positives.” Mississauga’s first goal, toward the end of the opening period, was not among them, however.

“We have veterans on the ice, but three guys can’t get the puck out, and eventually their first line will make you pay,” Burke said. “It’s so important to get pucks out of your end the first time, every time.

The timing of that goal, with 1: 06 left before the first intermission, was “not great.”

“We have a bad habit of allowing goals at the end of periods, and so we shot ourselves in the first period there. It should have been 0- 0 at the end of the first period.”

National Hockey League draft picks accounted for all of the scoring as Mississauga avenged a 6- 3 loss in the first meeting between the Central Division rivals.

Shots on net were 28 apiece, but the Steelheads had a decided advantage winning faceoffs. This allowed Mississauga to maintain possession of the puck longer after draws, especially when while killing penalties. Mississauga won 32 faceoffs compared to 23 for the IceDogs.

Owen Tippett, first round, Florida Panthers; Michael McLeod, first round, New Jersey Devils; and Nicolas Hague, second round, Vegas Golden Knights; found the back of the net for the Steelheads.

Kirill Maksimov, fifth round, Edmonton Oilers; replied for Niagara. His power- play goal, which rounded out scoring in the game 5: 33 into third period, was his team- leading 12th of the season.

Mississauga came into the game trailing the ’ Dogs by one point for second place in the Central Division, but the Steelheads have been one of the hottest teams in the OHL of late.

Sunday’s win was their ninth in the past 11 games, improving their record to 11- 10- 0- 1.

The IceDogs, who were hoping momentum from a 6- 1 win at home Friday against the North Bay Battalion would help carry them past the Steelheads, fell to 9- 8- 3- 1 in league play.

Backup goaltenders had a chance to shine, with each team giving their starters a break Sunday.

Colton Incze, seeing action in relief of Stephen Dhillon for the fifth time this season, lowered his goals- against average to 3.69 while increasing his save percentage to .881.

“I thought Colton was outstanding. He 100 per cent gave us a chance to win,” Burke said. “There’s nothing more he could have done.

“Two opportunities to get the puck out cost us goals, and we weren’t able to bear down around their net when we had good chances.”

Emanuel Vella was playing in his ninth game for the Steelheads, whose starter is Jacob Ingham.