SmartStop Post-Game Recap – 3 Wins in a Row
The Steelheads grab another two points in a 5-4 win against the Niagara IceDogs.
First Period
For the second time this weekend, the Steelheads took on the Niagara IceDogs, but this time at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre. The two teams last played on Thursday evening, where the Steelheads won 6-2.
It was a physical game to start as tensions between the two teams rose. As the intensity picked up, the IceDogs were able to get on the board first with Alex Assadourian scoring his sixth of the year 7:49 into the period. From that moment on, though, the Steelheads were dominant.
Within seconds, the Steelheads struck back to even the score. Rushing into Niagara’s zone with linemates Kai Schwindt and Adam Zidlicky, Angus MacDonell passed the puck to Zidlicky, who’s shot went just wide. MacDonell grabbed the puck and back-handed it to Schwindt in the slot, who put it past goalie Josh Rosenzweig.
About a minute and a half later, Mississauga went ahead with another goal. After his first two shots did not make it through Rosenzweig, his third shot in a row was a good one, scoring his third goal as a Steelhead to put the team up 2-1. Charlie Callaghan and Porter Martone got the assists.
The Steelheads had possession of the puck for a majority of the frame, registering a whopping 18 shots on goal and staying in the lead 2-1 to go into the second period.
Shots on Goal – 6 NIAG/18 MISS
Second Period
The second period began with a bang, as the Steelheads dominance continued. Within the first two minutes of the game, Martone took a hard shot that looked like it may have gone in, but it went off the crossbar.
Just a minute and a half later, the Steelheads made sure to get the puck all the way in, as James Hardie scored his 28th goal of the season assisted by Zander Veccia and Luke Misa. The goal marks Hardie’s ninth point in the last three games and 21st point since the start of 2023.
Shortly after Hardie’s goal, Mississauga earned the first power play of the game. On the ensuing man-advantage, Martone grabbed the puck after Kasper Larsen’s shot from the point went wide and fired it past Rosenzweig to go up 4-1. Chas Sharpe also received an assist on Martone’s first goal as a Steelhead.
In the final seconds of the period, Niagara’s Daniel Michaud cut the lead by one to score his 13th goal of the season. The Steelheads 21 shots and two goals scored were good enough to keep them in the lead 4-2 to exit the fame.
Shots on Goal – 5 NIAG/21 MISS
Third Period
Getting themselves right back in the game, the IceDogs scored once again, this time right at the beginning of the period. Andrew LeBlanc’s sixth of the year came 1:51 into the period to bring his team within one.
After the IceDogs got into lots of penalty trouble, the Steelheads got one on the power play as Luke Misa scored to put the Trout up 5-3 with two minutes to go. The goal was assisted by Sharpe and Veccia, marking the 23rd point for the first line trio of Misa, Veccia, and Hardie in the last three games.
The IceDogs made a push for it, coming back within one as Michaud scored his second of the night to make it 5-4, but the Steelheads held on and won their third game in a row in a 5-4 win.
Shots on Goal – 6 NIAG/18 MISS
Total Shots – 17 NIAG/57 MISS
Three Stars:
- Porter Martone (1G, 1A)
- Luke Misa (1G, 1A)
- Zander Veccia (2A)
The Steelheads pick up their third win in a row, including the second against the IceDogs in the last three games. The Steelheads will be back at home next weekend for two games against the Flint Firebirds and Ottawa 67’s. Click here to purchase your tickets!
