IceDogs Win Game 3, Generals Lead Series 2-1
Published on March 26, 2013 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Oshawa Generals News Release
St. Catharines - The Niagara IceDogs cut into the Generals series lead on Tuesday, coming out on top with a 4-2 victory. The IceDogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the first two periods before the Generals responded with a Cole Cassels goal in the third. Niagara responded shortly after to extend their lead to 4-1, and held out for the 4-2 win, making the series 2-1 for the Generals. Daniel Altshuller was the netminder for Oshawa, making 31 saves in the loss. Scott Laughton continued to have a hot hand in the series, scoring Oshawa's second goal to give him seven points in the series so far, tying him for second in the league in that category.
An expectedly physical first period ensued between the Generals and IceDogs, as the two teams looked for an edge in Game 3. The Generals put the puck in the net early, as Lucas Lessio batted the puck out of the air and into the net. After a short review, the goal was waved off because of a high-stick, and the game remained scoreless.
Niagara went up 1-0 at the 16:17 mark of the period, as Steven Shipley snapped a wrist shot over the blocker of Altshuller, for the opening goal. The goal gave the momentum to the IceDogs, as they controlled the puck in the Oshawa zone, but Daniel Altshuller came up big to keep the lead to one.
Shipley added to the Niagara lead 1:26 into the second period, as Jesse Graham circled the net and found the forward alone at the side of the net. Shipley buried the puck and put the IceDogs up 2-0.
The third unanswered goal for the IceDogs came at 9:53, as a bounce off the end-boards came straight to Anthony DiFruscia, who pounced on the rebound to make it 3-0 for Niagara.
A penalty filled third period saw the Generals score twice in the frame, but they couldn't mount a comeback against the IceDogs.
At 3:42 of the third, Cole Cassels slammed home a Lucas Lessio rebound to cut the lead to 3-1, and ended Niagara's Christopher Festarini's bid for the shutout. The momentum was short-lived, as Brett Ritchie responded less than a minute later to reclaim the three goal lead for Niagara.
The Generals cut into the lead again at 13:34 as Boone Jenner and Scott Laughton teamed up to make the score 4-2. Laughton received a pass from the Generals' captain in the slot, and made no mistake rifling a wrist shot through Festarini, giving Laughton his fourth goal and seventh point of the series.
The deficit was too much however, as the IceDogs skated away with the 4-2 victory, shrinking the Generals series lead to 2-1.
The Generals outshot Niagara 42-35.
Game 4 between the two teams will be on Thursday, March 28th at the Gatorade Garden City Complex (puck drop is at 7:00pm on Rogers TV Durham) before the series returns to the General Motors Centre for Game 5 on Friday, March 29th. Puck drop is at 7:35pm. Come out wearing red to support your Oshawa Generals!
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 26, 2013
- IceDogs Win Game 3, Generals Lead Series 2-1 - Oshawa Generals
- IceDogs Pick up Huge 4-2 Game Three Victory - Niagara IceDogs
- Rangers Fall 3-2 in Game 3 - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Look to Extend Series with Knights at Home on Thursday Night - Saginaw Spirit
- Smoskowitz Powers Steelheads Offence Past Bulls; Steelheads Win Game 4 and Tie Series - Brampton Steelheads
- Frontenacs Make Business Office Additions - Kingston Frontenacs
- Powerplay Pushes Hounds Past Attack in Game 3 - Soo Greyhounds
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