IceDogs Dominate Battalion in Shutout Victory
The Niagara IceDogs played host to the visiting North Bay Battalion Saturday night at the Meridian Centre. Saturday’s game marked the fourth of six meetings between the two Eastern Conference rivals as both are vying for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.
Knowing it was the most important game of the season thus far, the IceDogs responded accordingly. With an extended power play opportunity early in the first period, Ryan Mantha fired his patented slap shot through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net to open the scoring. Akil Thomas and Johnny Corneil picked up assists on the goal. Later in the period on another power play, Kirill Maksimov notched his 11th of the season to extend the IceDogs lead to 2-0. Thomas and Corneil both tallied their second assists of the evening on Maksimov’s insurance goal. The IceDogs held on to the 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Battalion continued to rack up the penalty minutes in the second period, allowing the IceDogs to go to work on multiple two man advantage power plays. Midway through the period, overage forward Justin Brack buried his 3rd of the season on an absolute laser over the glove of the opposing goaltender to put the IceDogs ahead 3-0. Linemates Bradey Johnson and Joshua Dame earned assists on the tally. Just moments later, Brack took advantage of a breakaway opportunity by completely undressing the Battalion netminder to make it a 4-0 game. Mantha and Maksimov drew assists on Brack’s second of the night as the IceDogs took the 4-0 lead to the dressing room after 2 periods.
The confidence of the IceDogs was at an all-time high heading into the third period. With a hungry Battalion team looking to get on the scoreboard, Stephen Dhillon had to be sharp between the pipes to keep the IceDogs comfortably ahead. The veteran goaltender was equal to the task, making 30 saves to earn his first shutout of the season and second of his career as the IceDogs won the game by a score of 4-0.
The IceDogs kick off a five game road trip on Thursday night as they head to North Bay to complete the home-and-home series. Returning home on March 2nd, the IceDogs will play host to the Kitchener Rangers.
Tickets are still available for the March 2nd game and can be purchased online HERE or in person at the following locations:
IceDogs Meridian Centre Offices 905-687-3641
Meridian Centre Box Office
Pen Centre Customer Service
Seaway Mall Customer Service
Courtyard by Marriott Niagara Falls Shots on Goal:
Niagara: 54
North Bay: 30
Big Marco’s Pizza Three Stars of the Game:
1st star: Stephen Dhillon
2nd star: Justin Brack
3rd star: Kirill Maksimov
