STATISTICAL ANOMOLIES

When you saw the match up between the front running  Niagara Ice Dogs and the bottom of the league Erie Otters, you may be excused if you banked the two points for the Ice Dogs.   The Dogs have been red hot on the road as of late, including taking the first two of a season long five game road trip.  Erie, with only 7 victories, had also yet to beat the Ice Dogs this year.

Why bother with the game?  Lets put the two points in the back pocket and move on!  Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the Tullio Centre.   The Ice Dogs, who fired 62 shots, could only muster a Freddie Hamilton goal.  Still no problem right?  The Ice Dogs have a league high ten shutouts, so goals allowed have been few and far between.  Check again.  The Otters, despite only a meagre 18 shots on goal, scored a power play goal with under six minutes to go to tie the game and then won it with a last minute power play goal by Leaf  draft pick Sondre Olden shocked the Ice Dogs.  Devin William, whom I have a sneaking suspicion got the 1st star, faced the 62 shot barrage and was the unquestionable star of the game. 

A couple of outlets and fan-sites referred to the game as a "heartbreaking loss" for the Ice Dogs. Please!  The Dogs will learn the valuable lesson that a hot goalie can steal a game, and that certainly was the case with young Williams.  Good for him, and good for the Otters who showed that anything can happen on any given night.   

The Dogs travel to Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie to finish off the five gamer before returning to face the same Soo Greyhounds Thursday February 23rd at home.  

Out shooting an opponent 62-18 and losing 2-1. 

It's why they play the games, no matter what the standings say!

Steve Clark

Niagara Ice Dogs TV Play-by-Play

www.twitter.com/SteveClarkMedia