Written by
Brandon Caputo
Photo Credit: vivideyephotography
Coming off a back-to-back split vs the Sudbury Wolves over the weekend, the Niagara IceDogs were back on the ice Tuesday night vs Peterborough. The start of a busy week for the IceDogs, as this is the first of a 4-game week; 3 out of 4 on home ice in Niagara. The home side will look to earn their first win against the Petes this season, currently holding an 0-3-1 record.
No lineup changes for the IceDogs, but rookie goaltender Joey Costanzo gets the nod in the crease, his first career OHL start vs Peterborough. Niagara's leading goal scorer and San Jose Sharks prospect Danil Gushchin scored his 36th last game against Sudbury.
Rookies Juan Copeland and Brice Cooke also found the back of the net, as they continue to mould into consistent OHlL players in their 1st seasons. Former Ottawa 67 Brenden Sirizzotti leads the way vs the Petes this season with 10 points in 8 games played.
The Petes are led by LW Emmett Sproule who has an impressive 74 points in 56 games. The Petes came into the game with a 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, currently holders of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chase Stillman leads the way this season vs the IceDogs as the former Sudbury Wolves forward has 8 points in 5 games vs Niagara this season.
STARTING LINEUP:
(RW) Danil Gushchin
(C) Pano Fimis
(LW) Aidan Castle
(D) Landon Cato
(D) Alec Leonard
(G) Joey Costanzo
FIRST PERIOD
The IceDogs would be called for an early penalty as Van Loon goes off 1:15 into the game, sending Niagara to an early penalty kill. A good steal on the penalty kill by Daniel Michaud led to a shorthanded chance with Brenden Sirizzotti that went wide of the Petes net. Niagara were able to kill off the early powerplay for Peterborough, not allowing the Petes much as far as offensive opportunities.
Good movement in the offensive zone by the IceDogs leads to Declan Waddick taking the pass from Isaac Enright and firing it short side on Austin to give Niagara the early 1-0 lead. The IceDogs would get a chance with the man advantage with Dubois going off for the Petes, but Niagara couldn't really sustain any real zone pressure on the powerplay. A good lunging poke check by goaltender Costanzo broke up a solid chance for the Petes' DeZoete midway through the opening stanza.
Carroll goes off for interference, giving Niagara their 2nd opportunity with the man advantage. Nothing doing once again on the powerplay, but Sirizzotti had a glorious opportunity around the faceoff circle but just shot it wide of the open cage. Van Loon finds Michaud for a chance in tight, but the pass is just a little too far behind him to be able to coral it for a strong enough redirect chance.
2 big saves in a row by Costanzo in tight with the right pad on Petes' Gagner who was buzzing around the Niagara crease. DeZoette gets revenge on Costanzo for the earlier missed chance and goes top shelf on the IceDogs net minder to tie the game 1-1 with just over 2 minutes remaining in the opening period.
San Jose Sharks 5th round prospect (unsigned) Artem Guryev gets the assist on the nice stretch pass, finding DeZoette in stride leading to the goal.
An unfortunate break for the IceDogs as Anthony Agostinelli gets his stick up high on an opponent leading to a double minor for high sticking. A late powerplay that will carry over into Period 2. Shots after the 1st Period favour the visitor by a total of 12-8.
SECOND PERIOD
The IceDogs start the period off on the penalty kill for almost a full 2 minutes. Not much happening through the first half of the period until Guryev hits his countryman and fellow San Jose Sharks prospect Danil Gushchin into the boards. Good response by Cato and Fimis coming to their teammates defense. The play is reviewed for
a 5-minute match penalty but the call is upheld to only a 2-minute minor. IceDogs to another powerplay.
A few shorthanded chances for the Petes for most of the man advantage, but the IceDogs finally get a chance the other way as Sirizzotti finds Michaud once again for a redirect opportunity that is stopped by Austin.
Waddick with a nifty drop pass to Agostinelli for a strong scoring chance but that is also stopped by the Petes net minder, a good scoring chance from the 4th line.
A retaliation penalty taken by Gushchin for slashing on Carroll, after a questionable hit along the boards by the Peterborough forward. IceDogs to another penalty kill, as that sequence resulted in an upset bench on the home side. Sirizzotti continues his strong game, with another great pass on the penalty kill as he finds Van Loon in tight for a shorthanded scoring opportunity. The IceDogs penalty killers stand tall and stay perfect on the night.
Michaud goes down hard into the boards battling with McCoy trying to beat out the icing. The IceDogs forward is slow to get to his feet, but shakes it off and gets to the bench under his own power. Very late in the period, Dakota Betts is called for a slash on Chase Stillman who was trying to chase down a loose puck for a breakaway. Niagara goes to the penalty kill once again, which will be the 2nd time they've had a carryover penalty in this game. Tied 1-1 after the 2nd, shots 25-18 in favour of Peterborough.
THIRD PERIOD
A scary scene less than 30 seconds into the period as Anthony Agostinelli crashes hard into the boards and is thriving in pain. #3 is helped to the locker room for further evaluation. On the following shift Tucker Robertson hauls down Liam Van Loon, ending the Petes powerplay. The IceDogs would get 1:15 of time with the man advantage after the penalty to Betts expired. No dice on the short man advantage for the home side.
Danil Gushchin is able to draw a tripping penalty, as the Petes goaltender Tye Austin is called for tripping behind his net. IceDogs will get a powerplay with just under 12 minutes to go in regulation, trying to break through for the go ahead goal. Costanzo comes up with a huge save as the Petes were able to get 2 players free for a 2on0 chance in tight, but the IceDogs rookie net minder is up to the task keeping the game tied.
Another big stop for Costanzo as the Petes are able to cut in tight with traffic, but the net minder is able to get enough of the shot with his blocker. Tense moments late, but both teams don't budge and Niagara will be going to their 3rd straight Overtime game. Shots 33-23 at the end of regulation.
OVERTIME
It only took 1 shot in overtime as Danil Gushchin was able to find captain Dakota Betts who cut in tight on Austin and roofed it top shelf to win it for the IceDogs and send the Meridian centre crowd into a frenzy.
2nd straight win in extra time for Niagara. Rookie goaltender Joey Costanzo makes 32 of 33 saves in the victory, earning the 1st star. IceDogs will be back on home ice Thursday night vs the Erie Otters, after picking up 5 out of a possible 6 points in the last 3 contests. Not to mention, the 3rd game in 4 days for the team.
JERSEY HOUSE PLAYER OF THE GAME: #33 Joey Costanzo
Photo Credit: vivideyephotography