Otters Sneak By IceDogs
December 31, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Niagara IceDogs News Release
Two rookie net-minders battled it out as the Erie Otters capitalized in an eventful shoot-off at the Gatorade Garden City Complex Thursday night.
The Otters opened the scoring early in the first as Shawn Szydlowski wristed one past rookie goalie John Chartrand to give Erie a 1-0 lead. The Otters also started a rookie goaltender in Adam Wood, as their usual starter, Jaroslav Janus, recently signed a two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Erie quickly followed up as Mitch Gaulton blasted a shot over the right shoulder of Chartrand, giving them a 2-0 lead.
Niagara came back as the Dogs worked a solid cycle in the Otters end, giving Josh Moes and Dylan MacEachern a chance to set up Alex Friesen, who netted his 13th of the season to cut the Erie lead in half.
Shortly after the IceDogs goal, Erie took two penalties giving the Dogs a 5-on-3 advantage. With Niagara using five forwards on the power play, Captain Andrew Agozzino was able to put one past Adam Wood to tie the game 2-2.
Niagara kept the momentum going and crashed the Erie net, allowing Andrew Shaw to notch his 4th of the year at the 16:01 mark.
Things would not get any easier for Erie as Matt Petgrave hammered one in from the point just one minute later to give the Dogs a 4-2 lead, with help from Andrew Fritsh.
The Otters would see some life late in the third as Mike Cazzola scored with just 40 seconds left in the period, giving the game a 4-3 score going into the first intermission.
Early in the second period, Alex Friesen came close to netting his second of the game as he rang a shot off the post.
Erie's Matthew Paton tied the game at 4 with 13:12 left in the second period after a huge scramble in front of the IceDogs net.
The tie would not last long as Andrew Fritsh scored on a similar play in front of Erie's net to regain the IceDogs lead.
The IceDogs were called on a questionable delay-of-game penalty midway through the period, and Zack Torquato tallied a power play goal for the Otters to give each team 5 goals a piece.
The shooting frenzy continued late in the second as Andrew Fritsh scored his second goal of the game, and just 13 seconds later Matt Paton also notched his second, giving the game a 6-6 score after 40 minutes. Erie got the go-ahead goal at the 12:47 mark of the third when Mike Cazzola netted his second of the game to make the score 7-6 in favour of the Otters. Andrew Yogan followed up for the Otters shortly after to give them an 8-6 lead. Andrew Fritsh gave the IceDogs some late life as he netted his hat-trick goal with just 2.6 seconds remaining in the game. The game would remain at a close 8-7 score in favour of the Erie Otters.
The IceDogs will travel to Sudbury on Saturday, January 2 to face-off against the Wolves at 7:00 p.m. in a Central Division match-up. The next IceDogs home game will take place on Thursday, Jan. 7, as they play host to Tyler Seguin and the West Division's second place Plymouth Whalers with the puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets to this and all other IceDogs home games can be purchased at one of the many IceDogs ticketing locations.
For more home-game photos, please visit www.rickdenham.com Happy New Year from your Niagara IceDogs!
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2009
- Shawn Lalonde Signs Entry Level Contract with Chicago Blackhawks - Belleville Bulls
- Otters Win Wild One On New Year's Eve, 8-7 - Erie Otters
- Otters Sneak By IceDogs - Niagara IceDogs
- Windsor Spitfires Defeat Saginaw Spirit 4-3 In An Overtime Shootout - Windsor Spitfires
- Tampa Bay Lightning Signs G Jaroslav Janus To NHL Contract - Erie Otters
- Majors End 2009 With A Loss - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
- Spirit Battle Spitfires To 4-3 Shootout Loss - Saginaw Spirit
- Binnington Gets Call for World Under 17's - Owen Sound Attack
- Parlett Wins It For Majors In Over Time - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
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