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An identification disaster had Niagara questioning what breed of ’Canine they have been when Ontario Hockey League’s Canine Cup rivalry resumed Saturday night time at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines.
As an alternative of competing just like the IceDogs, a rebuilding crew that prides itself on being powerful to play towards, the hosts began the sport mimicking the visiting Bulldogs, a squad that has gone all in on a Memorial Cup run.
The end result was disappointing as Hamilton skated to a 6-3 victory, bettering to 6-0 in head-to-head play versus Niagara this season.
“We didn’t play to our identification. It’s virtually like we needed to play like Hamilton,” IceDogs head coach Billy Burke mentioned. “We’re not Hamilton, we will’t play that means.
“They'll play that means and have success.”
After heading into the primary intermission trailing 3-0, the IceDogs have been instructed in a typically “stern” between-periods discuss to overlook in regards to the rating. Burke urged his gamers to “preserve going.”
“It’s not about what occurred, it’s about what’s coming,” he mentioned. “Attempt to hunt that subsequent purpose, attempt to get out of the primary interval and never have it too ugly on us.”
The fourth-year coach thought Niagara canine a “good job” of regrouping and getting again into the sport.
“We performed a a lot better second and third,” Burke mentioned. “There was no give up, there was zero give up on our bench.
“The fellows believed they have been in it. It was good to capitalize and get some breaks and earn some breaks.”
Not sufficient breaks went the IceDogs’ means as they misplaced their second recreation in a row.
“Unlucky purpose within the third went off our man’s knee, however it's important to earn your breaks,” Burke mentioned.
“They have been incomes theirs early, for positive, and possibly we earned ours a bit bit later.
“It’s actually a lesson for us on how now we have to play our construction.”
Hamilton outshot Niagara by a 19-7 within the opening interval and went up 3-0 on targets from George Diaco, Ryan Humphrey and Jan Mysak.
Avery Hayes added to the Bulldogs lead with a power-play purpose. His teammate, Giordano Biondi, had an opportunity so as to add his identify to the scoresheet, however Niagara goaltender Josh Rosenzweig made a pad save on a penalty shot.
Pictures have been 12 apart within the second interval.
Within the closing body, the IceDogs wanted solely 17 seconds to chop their guests’ lead in half with former Bulldog Liam Van Loon, on the ability play, and Dylan Roobroeck discovering the again of the online.
Mysak, energy play, and Niagara’s Alec Leonard traded targets earlier than Mysak rounded out the scoring with an empty-netter for the hat trick.
Pictures within the third have been 19-10 in favour of the Bulldogs who outshot the IceDogs 50-29 general.
Hamilton completed the sport 2-for-3 on the ability play; Niagara, 1-for-6.
Hamilton got here into Saturday night time’s recreation main the regular-season sequence 5 wins to none. Eight video games in all are scheduled to be performed within the Jap Convention Canine Cup rivalry.
Niagara hoped to rebound from a 4-3 loss to the Erie Otters. Of their final recreation, the Bulldogs doubled the Ottawa 67’s 4-2 at dwelling.
It was Niagara’s final dwelling recreation with out followers. Beginning Tuesday night time, when the IceDogs host the Mississauga Steelheads, a most of 500 followers shall be allowed at Meridian Centre, which has a capability of 5,300 for hockey.
Imposed by the Ontario authorities, that attendance cap will stay in place for video games towards Ottawa, this Thursday; and the Sudbury Wolves, Sunday, Feb. 20; as properly. After that, if all goes properly and no additional restrictions shall be wanted to include the unfold of COVID-19 and its variants, capability shall be elevated to 50 per cent.
Tickets for the 50 per cent capability video games are being allotted to season ticket holders by means of a lottery.
Left-wing Danil Gushchin, Niagara’s high scorer and the crew’s solely Nationwide Hockey League prospect, was out of the lineup serving the second recreation of a four-game suspension. He was penalized 4 video games after the league reviewed a play wherein North Bay Battalion goaltender Dom DiVincentiis was knocked out of Tuesday night time’s recreation in St. Catharines following contact with Gushchin.
On the time of the infraction, Gushchin obtained a five-minute main and a recreation misconduct.
’Canine Biscuits Sami Douglas-Najem, D; Gushchin RW; have been the Niagara scratches. Brenden Anderson, C; Colton Kammerer, D; Mason McTavish, C; Lucas Moorem D; Logan Morrison, C; Noah Nelson, C; Noah Roberts, D; Noah VandenBrink, RW; have been out of the Hamilton lineup … There are 5 Nationwide Hockey League draft picks on the Bulldogs roster: Artem Grushnikov, D, Dallas; Jan Mysak, C, Montreal; Ryan Winterton, C, Seattle; Arber Xhekaj, D, Montreal; McTavish, Anaheim;. Gushchin, San Jose; is the lone NHL prospects on the IceDogs … Centre Ethan Sims, a Hamilton native, spent elements of three seasons with the IceDogs earlier than going to the Bulldogs at this 12 months’s OHL commerce deadline … Rookie Hamilton left-wing Braeden O’Keefe is initially from St. Catharines.
THE SCOOP
Bulldogs 6
IceDogs 3
Niagara Dailies three stars of the sport Hamilton, Jan Mysak, 3 targets, 6 pictures on internet; Hamilton, Nathan Staios, 3 assists, 5 pictures on internet; Niagara, Dylan Roobroeck, 1 purpose, 6 pictures on internet
Scoring for Hamilton Bulldogs George Diaco (14), Ryan Humphrey (10), Jan Mysak (19), (20) PP (21) EN, Avery Hayes (21). Scoring for Niagara IceDogs Liam Van Loon (10) PP, Dylan Roobroeck (4), Alec Leonard (4).
Goaltending, shots-saves Hamilton, Matteo Drobac, 29-26; Niagara, Josh Rosenzweig, 49-44
Energy play, goals-chances Hamilton, 2-3; Niagara, 1-6
Penalties, in minutes Hamilton, 16; Niagara, 12
Attendance at Meridian Centre, St Catharines No spectators beneath present part of provincial pandemic reopening plan
Subsequent video games for Niagara Sunday, at Mississauga Steelheads, 2 p.m.; Tuesday, dwelling to Mississauga Steelheads, 7 p.m.; Friday, dwelling to Ottawa 67’s, 7 p.m.; Saturday, at Peterborough Petes, 7:05 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 6, at Ottawa 67’s, 2 p.m.