Storm rattles IceDogs in OT
Guelph forces OT with seven seconds left in regulation
It was an exciting game for the fans, but a kick, stomp and pull your hair out contest for coaches and team management.
Any time there’s a total of 11 new and returning players in your respective lineups — five for Niagara and six for Guelph — you’re likely going to get that.
Comfort and chemistry were missing throughout this game, at key times, and in the end, the visiting Storm prevailed 6-5 in overtime against the IceDogs in front of 4,786 fans at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines Thursday night.
Niagara trailed 4-2 midway through the second period only to battle back and take a 5-4 lead with 4:04 left in the third period.
However, failing to clear the puck led to Guelph tying things at five with seven seconds left in regulation, before newly acquired Nick Suzuki won it for the visitors 2:19 into the extra period.
“Two good teams for sure, but definitely a heartbreaker,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke said. “Six seconds left (in the third period) we’ve got to be better, and understand the importance of getting the puck over the blue-line.
“It’s as simple as that. It’s a learning experience, unfortunately.”
Burke started former Oshawa Generals captain Jack Studnicka at centre with Ben Jones on left wing and Kirill Maksimov on right wing, but changed that after the first period, and it immediately paid dividends as Jones won a draw, and fed Kirill Maksimov for his 27th goal of the season 3:13 into the second period.
“It just didn’t seem as natural
as I wanted it to be,” Burke explained. “It just didn’t seem right, and I thought it would be a little more natural to put (Ben) Jonesy in the middle and Akil (Thomas) on the wing.”
Thomas started at centre between Jason Robertson and Phil Tomasino.
The Niagara bench boss knows it will take time to find the right line combinations over the final 29 regular season games.
“Chemistry is going to be a work in progress,” said Burke. “But we’ve got a bunch of great guys and great players, so I’m sure we’ll be able to find some things that click for us.”
Studnicka did pick up his first point as an IceDog on Jones’ second goal of the game. The Boston Bruins 2017 second-round pick knows finding his groove with his new team will come.
“Ya, definitely, I only had one practice before this game,” Studnicka said. “We have so much forward depth I think it’s not a matter of what line you’re playing on, it’s who you’re with.
“You can go with anyone, there’s so much skill up front, so it’s just a matter of finding the right guys who work together and complement each other.
“It’s really fun to be here and be a part of it. I’m looking forward to contributing and helping the team win.”
Burke calls Studnicka “Jack of all trades,” and did hint that another new arrival in goaltender Jake McGrath might make his first start in a Niagara uniform Friday night against the Kingston Frontenacs. The 20-year old goaltender, and Mississauga native, was acquired earlier in the day in a trade with Sudbury.
Puck drop Friday at Meridian Centre is set for 7 p.m.
’Dog Biscuits: Jake McGrath, Ivan Lodnia, Mason Howard and Jonah De Simone were scratched for the IceDogs … The IceDogs honoured the eight world junior
players involved in this contest before the game: Jason Roberston, USA; Daniel Bukac; Czech Republic; Kyen Sopa, Switzerland; and Jack Studnicka (Canada) from Niagara; Dmitri Samorukov, Russia; Mackenzie Entwistle, Canada; Markus Phillips, Canada; and Nick Suzuki, Canada; from Guelph … After Thursday’s trade deadline the Storm and IceDogs feature 19 NHL drafted players; nine on Niagara and 10 on Guelph.