IceDogs shoot down Petes
Ethan Czata scored in regulation as the Niagara IceDogs edged the Peterborough Petes 2-1 in a shootout Tuesday in Peterborough. Photo: OHL IMAGES.
The Peterborough Petes gave the Niagara IceDogs all they could handle Tuesday night.
The Petes entered the matchup without a win in their first 12 games this season but it took a goal from Ryan Roobroeck for Niagara to emerge with two points as the IceDogs edged the Petes 2-1 in a shootout in Ontario Hockey League action at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
Roobroeck’s goal came after IceDogs goaltender Owen Flores turned away all three Peterborough shootout shooters and Kevin He and Andrei Loshko were thwarted by Petes’ netminder Zach Bowen.
Bowen and Flores were the stars of this one — Bowen made 44 saves while Flores turned back 37 shots.
“What else can you say about Owen Flores?” IceDogs coach Ben Boudreau said. “That guy just keeps winning. He’s 7-1-0, hasn’t had a game where he’s let in more than three. I mean, as long as he is in there for us, he’s been giving us a chance night in and night out. And it is really fun to see him.”
Boudreau indicated Flores will get the nod later this week when the IceDogs host Barrie Friday and Sudbury Sunday afternoon.
“When you have a hot goaltender, you’ve got to ride him, so we already know he’s going to be back between the pipes against a really good Barrie hockey club and more than likely on Sunday,” Boudreau said.
St. Catharines Rankin Construction Falcons goaltender Hayden Jeffery acted as backup with Charlie Robertson on the sidelines.
“I don’t know what his timeline is (to return),” Boudreau said of Robertson.
Ethan Czata gave Niagara a 1-0 lead with his third of the season late in the first period.
Brennan Faulkner tied the game at 1-1 with a goal in the second to conclude the scoring.
“I think both teams played very defensive first understanding that is the way to win hockey games,” Boudreau said. “I was really, really impressed with Peterborough’s commitment to a game plan and the way they blocked shots and the way they’re coached. To be honest I’m left scratching my head how they haven’t won yet.”
Boudreau said the IceDogs struck to the game plan despite being frustrated with the score.
“I told them that would be our Achilles heel, changing the way we play because they’re doing a good job bottling up the zone,” Boudreau said. “We learned because Owen Sound frustrated us by playing defence and we started gambling and they scored four goals in the second period. So I think we took a page from that game early on and have found a way to learn from it, which is not to break structure, not to break our system. We stuck with it all the way through the very end.”
The IceDogs lead the Eastern Conference with a 10-3 mark.
The Petes are last overall in the OHL with an 0-10-1-2 record.
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