IceDogs vs. Spits: Live Game Blog Sept. 16

We’re in Thorold for our final preseason game. I know it’s just a preseason game, but it’s extra special for me tonight as we host the Windsor Spitfires. I interned with the Spits for two years before moving to Niagara and I have nothing but good things to say about that organization. That said, there would be nothing sweeter than getting a win over them tonight!

We’re coming off an exciting shootout win over the Kitchener Rangers Friday night in Beamsville. It was a bit of a coming out party for Mikkel Aagaard, who scored a goal in regulation and another one in the shootout to give the Dogs a 3-2 win. You always want to go into the regular season on a high note, and getting a win tonight would do just that.

If you’re ready, I’m ready. Let’s check the rosters!

 

NIAGARA ICEDOGS

30) Stephen Dhillon
31) MacKenzie Savard
3) Jack Wieringa
4) Vince Dunn
7) Mikkel Aagaard
8) Billy Jenkins
9) Jordan Maletta
13) Graham Knott
14) Christopher Paquette
15) Matt Gillard
16) Mitchell Fitzmorris
17) Evan Krassey
19) Nick Halagian
20) Zach Wilkie
22) Ben Hughes
23) Johnny Corneil
24) Hayden McCool
26) Jonathon Schaefer
27) Cody Caron
29) Aleksandar Mikulovich

 

WINDSOR SPITFIRES

30) Alex Fotinos
31) Brendan Johnston
2) Andrew Burns
3) Liam Murray
5) Nick Gauvin
7) Ryan Foss
8) Trevor Murphy
17) Logan Stanley
21) Logan Brown
24) Graeme Brown
25) Sam Povorozniouk
32) Mark Manchurek
44) Luke Kirwan
55) Slater Dogget
57) Jalen Chatfield
61) Chris Marchese
71) Ryan Moore
77) Nikko Sablone
91) Aaron Luchuk
97) Daniil Vertiy

 

FIRST PERIOD

Aagaard gets the start up front tonight, looking to start where he left off on Friday against Kitchener.

1:27: Good save by Dhillon early as he gets the pad in the way of Kirwan’s shot.

2:53: Good puck movement by the Dogs and Schaefer gets a good shot off from the point. Fotinos covers it up.

4:57: 1-0 Spits
A bit of a defensive breakdown as Moore walks in alone up the wing and gets a shot off. Dhillon makes the first save but Kirwan is there to put home the rebound.

6:12: 1-1 Tie
It doesn’t take long for the IceDogs to tie it up. Krassey tips the point shot past Fotinos and we’re all square once again.

7:48: 2-1 IceDogs
Paquette is all alone on the doorstep and he makes no mistake putting away his first OHL goal. Way to go Chris!

9:33: Dunn probably just saved a goal with an excellent defensive play to break up a two-on-one. Great decision making on that one.

10:38: 2-2 Tie
Well it’s a goal fest so far. Foss rifles a bullet that beats Dhillon over the shoulder and ties this game back up.

11:29: Jenkins is all alone in the slot and let’s go a one-time but Fotinos gets over to make the save.

15:33: Dhillon has had an impressive glove all preseason. Flashes the leather again there to keep it tied.

17:56: Again, Dhillon makes a great save to keep the score knotted at 2-2. Robs Foss on a post-to-post stop.

18:50: Everybody doing whatever it takes. Maletta lays out and saves a goal with a great blocked shot.

19:49: Not one, not two, not three, not… you get it it. Somehow the IceDogs can’t beat Fotinos on a mad scramble.

 

SECOND PERIOD

2:49: It takes a couple minutes for the Dogs to settle in this period, but Halagian gets their first shot of the period. Fotinos keeps it out.

3:50: Aagaard is all over the place again tonight. He nearly beats Fotinos to give the IceDogs the lead back.

5:10: Wilkie and Moore have a bit of a shoving match after the whistle. They’ll both sit for four minutes as this game starts to heat up.

6:09: IceDogs get the first PP of the game as Murphy whacks Corneil’s stick out of his hands.

6:39: Knott with some nice moves right up the middle and he slides it over to McCool. He can’t get a handle on it, otherwise he had a wide open net.

7:30: A great passing play by Maletta, Jenkins and Caron, but Fotinos is starting to get into a zone here. He keeps it out.

8:32: A bit of a pile up in the IceDogs zone and McCool gets called for holding. IceDogs to the PK.

10:44: Great burst of speed by Knott as he blows by everybody. Fotinos is there to make the save once again. Savard takes Dhillon’s place at the whistle.

12:04: Johnny Corneil absolutely crushes Chatfield in front of the box. My word what a hit.

15:26: Great to see the local guy Halagian playing with some jump tonight. One assist already, and nearly gets another there.

15:38: Gauvin decides to dump Caron to the ice after the whistle. Can’t do that. IceDogs get their second power play of the evening.

17:31: Wilkie’s point shot finds its way in, but Caron gets called for bumping into Fotinos. No goal. IceDogs also take a bench minor and they’ll be short two men in 17 seconds.

18:27: 3-2 Spits
The five-on-three power play doesn’t take long to capitalize. Murphy’s point shot finds its way through and the Spits take the lead.

18:59: IceDogs will get a chance to answer quickly as they get a PP. Murphy heads to the box.

 

THIRD PERIOD

1:51: Savard makes the easy save on Murphy’s point shot. He’ll stop that every time without traffic.

2:59: Krassey called for hooking as he gets his stick in Vertiy’s hands. IceDogs to the PK.

IceDogs having a hard time getting any kind of offensive pressure here. They need a spark to get some momentum.

7:49: Chatfield retaliates to a Krassey hit and gives him a two hander. IceDogs to the power play and they have an excellent chance to tie this up.

11:04: Miku gets called for boarding after he hits Vertiy. Sablone evens it up by coming after Miku. He gets a face full of glove and drops.

11:32: What a hit by Schaefer. Oh boy he got all of the Spits forward, who just so happened to be Logan Brown.

13:10: 3-3 Tie
The IceDogs thwart a chance from Marchese and rush up the other way. Knott feeds Dunn who absolutely wires it top corner. Tie game!

14:26: Doggett decides to run over Savard. Mikulovich takes exception and let’s him know that won’t fly. With his fists.

16:15: It gets a little crazy now. Three fights break out at once and a handful of players are sent to the dressing room.

17:03: 4-3 Spits
Foss throws the puck out front and it bounces off a skate and in. Tough bounce. Spits lead 4-3.

17:29: Tough to see, looks like an IceDogs got drilled in the corner. More fights break out. It’s pandemonium. Sablone seems to have started it all with a hit from behind. He’s gone.

18:29: Five on three upcoming as Aagaard gets hauled down. Here we go.

18:47: Tie
From a tough angle, Maletta fires the one-timer home. This place erupts. Awesome.

SHOOTOUT

Foss- Miss
Hughes- Goal
Kirwan- Goal
Corneil- Miss
Brown- Miss
Aagaard- Miss
Luchuk- Goal
Maletta- Miss

IceDogs fall 5-4 in a shootout.

 

GAME SUMMARY

SCORING

FIRST PERIOD
WSR KIRWAN (MOORE) 4:57
NIA KRASSEY (HALAGIAN, MIKULOVICH) 6:12
NIA PAQUETTE (FITZMORRIS, GILLARD) 7:48
WSR FOSS (UNASSISTED) 10:38

SECOND PERIOD
WSR MURPHY (POVOROZNIOUK, L.BROWN) 18:27 PP

THIRD PERIOD
NIA DUNN (KNOTT) 13:10
WSR FOSS (2) (BROWN, MARCHESE) 17:03
NIA MALETTA (JENKINS, WILKIE) 18:47 PP

SHOTS
NIA 13-11-14= 38
WSR 16-6-10= 32

 

PPS
NIA 1-for-5
WSR 1-for-4