SmartStop Post Game Recap – Brampton Battles to the End in Overtime Loss to Niagara
NIAGARA, ON – The Brampton Steelheads were back on the road Sunday afternoon for the second game of a back-to-back, facing the Niagara IceDogs.
The IceDogs received an early power-play opportunity at 2:01 after Brampton was called for too many men on the ice, but the Steelheads’ penalty kill held strong to keep the game scoreless.
Brampton goaltender Luke Johnson was tested early, as the IceDogs fired five shots on goal and controlled much of the play in the opening five minutes. Despite the sustained pressure, Johnson stood tall in the crease.
Not long after, at 6:41, the IceDogs broke through as Ryerson Edgar found the back of the net, with assists from Hayden Reid and Chase Hull, to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
Brampton got its first look at the man advantage at 13:37, as Hayden Reid was sent to the box for a two-minute minor for interference. After generating strong puck movement and several quality chances, the Steelheads capitalized on the power play at 15:20, with Justin Bottineau scoring to get Brampton on the board and tie the game.
It was a tightly contested, back-and-forth opening period, with Niagara holding a slight edge in shots, 9-8. Brampton looked to build on its momentum following the game-tying goal, while Niagara aimed to respond as the teams headed into the second frame.
Brampton got off to a strong start in the second period, as Owen Cartwright found himself with too much space at 1:11 and capitalized on his first career OHL goal, giving the Steelheads a 2-1 lead.
Not long after, at 2:18, Brampton earned a power-play opportunity as Haoxi Wang was sent to the penalty box for a delay-of-game penalty. Despite the advantage, the Steelheads were unable to extend their lead.
Later in the period, at 13:35, the IceDogs scored the equalizer as Ryan Roobroeck found the back of the net, assisted by Riley Patterson and Jakub Chromiak, tying the game 2-2.
At 15:19, the Trout earned a power-play opportunity following a Reyth Smith cross-checking penalty, but the Steelheads were unable to regain the lead on the advantage.
The second period continued as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging goals. Brampton led the shot total in the period, 9-7. Both teams looked to pull away from the tight battle and rise to the challenge as they headed into the final frame.
The third period got off to a dramatic start, as just 10 seconds in, Riley Patterson scored the go-ahead goal to give Niagara a 3-2 lead, putting all the pressure on Brampton to respond.
Despite the IceDogs holding the lead, the third frame remained fairly even. With less than 10 minutes played, the shot total for the period was tied at 7.
After numerous chances throughout the period, the Steelheads finally found the back of the net at 12:02, as Manuel Amado scored the game-tying goal in the final frame.
The final minutes of the third were tense, with back-and-forth puck battles as the stakes rose. Neither team could find the winner, sending the game into overtime.
An unfortunate penalty for the Steelheads occurred at 1:18 of overtime, as Justin Bottineau was assessed a four-minute double minor for high sticking, giving Niagara a golden opportunity.
Ryan Roobroeck capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his second goal of the game at 2:46 of overtime to give Niagara the 4-3 victory.
The Steelheads can hold their heads high, having stayed competitive throughout the entire game and coming close to victory. They look to build on the positive energy from tonight’s effort as they hit the road again on Friday to face the Guelph Storm.
The Brampton Steelheads will be back at the CAA Centre on January 31st for the annual Kids Takeover Game—don’t miss the fun!
Get your tickets now: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/brampton-steelheads-tickets/artist/1753776
Shots
NIAG: 30
BRAM: 31
3 Stars of Game
- Ryan Roobroeck (2G)
- Riley Patterson (1G, 2A)
- Ethan Czata (1A)
