IceDogs Win OT Thriller over First Place Bulls 5-4
March 2, 2013 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release
The Niagara IceDogs pulled off a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory over the first place Belleville Bulls in Belleville on Saturday night!
The first period would see strong goaltending in a battle of the backup goaltenders, with both Brent Moran and Belleville starter Charlie Graham keeping things scoreless for much of the period, despite some great chances for both sides. The teams would not make it through the period scoreless however, as Brett Ritchie would open the scoring with 2:08 remaining in the frame to send the IceDogs into the intermission up 1-0. Shots were 15-13 Niagara after one.
Unfortunately for the IceDogs their lead would not last long as Belleville would knot things up only 2:22 into the second to make it 1-1. The goaltenders would continue their strong play throughout the remainder of the period to keep things tied at 1-1 after 40 minutes. Shots after two continued to favour the IceDogs 26-23.
The third period would once again see the IceDogs concede an early goal as Belleville would take their first lead of the game, scoring only 1:34 in to make it a 2-1 game. Belleville would then strike again just before the midway point of the period, putting the IceDogs in a tough spot, down 3-1 against a stingy Belleville squad who had won 11 in a row on home ice. The IceDogs would not be fazed however and Ritchie would get the IceDogs right back in the game, finishing off a 2-on-1 from Ryan Strome shorthanded with 3:40 remaining to make it 3-2. The comeback would then be completed less than a minute later as Carter Verhaeghe would tie things up at 3-3! The IceDogs would not stop there as Steven Shipley would give the visitors the lead at 4-3, putting home a great pass from Strome with only 51 seconds remaining! The dramatics continued however as Belleville would press for the equalizer and with the extra attacker on and less than five seconds remaining, they would find the back of the net to tie things up at 4-4 and send the game to overtime.
In overtime, both teams would have their chances and it looked like the game was headed for a shootout. That would change in the final 10 seconds of the period however, as the IceDogs would be able to capitalizing on a Belleville turnover and Verhaeghe would wire home the winner with only four seconds left in overtime to make Niagara 5-4 winners! Final shots were 38-37 IceDogs.
The IceDogs will now return to St. Catharines where they will play host to the visiting Windsor Spitfires tomorrow afternoon at 2pm. Tickets for this and all other IceDogs home games are still available and can be purchased at all IceDogs ticketing locations.
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2013
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