The Niagara IceDogs defeated the London Knights by a close 3-2 score Friday night at the John Labatt Centre, improving their record 31-15-0-3 to lead the OHL's Central Division.

Tonight's game also marked IceDogs' captain Andrew Agozzino's 300th career regular season appearance, making him the only player in franchise history to reach that milestone.

The IceDogs opened the scoring on a 5-on-3 power play as David Pacan recorded his 23rd goal of the season with the help of Freddie Hamilton and Alex Friesen.

Leading 1-0 to start the second, Niagara continued to pressure the Knights and eventually took a 2-0 lead as Steven Shipley put one past opposing goaltender Michael Houser. Freddie Hamilton, who made a nifty play to get Shipley the puck, notched his second assist of the night, while Jesse Graham picked up his first.

With London on a power play midway through the frame, Greg McKegg managed to break Mark Visentin's 240-plus minute shutout streak - cutting the IceDogs' lead to 2-1.
Jared Knight followed suit and scored a goal late in the second, tying the game 2-2 as the two teams headed into the intermission.

Recently acquired IceDog Brett Ritchie busted into the Knights' zone just over a minute into the third, ripping a shot past Houser to regain the Niagara lead, 3-2.
Luke Mercer (who got involved in the second by dropping his gloves) picked up an assist on the goal along with Brock Beukeboom.

Mark Visentin came up with several key saves throughout the remainder of the game, and nearly scored a goal as he shot the puck at an empty Knights' net late in the frame, but missed just wide. Nonetheless, his and the team's effort was enough to finish the night with a 3-2 victory over the London Knights.

The IceDogs will now return home to host the division rival Brampton Battalion tomorrow (Saturday) Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

- Jeff Blay

Scoreboard:
1. NIAG D. Pacan (23) (F. Hamilton, A. Friesen) 15:03 (PP)
2. NIAG S. Shipley (13) (F. Hamilton, J. Graham) 6:26
2. LDN G. McKegg (24) (J. Knight, R. Rupert) 11:39 (PP)
2. LDN J. Knight (19) (O. Maatta, B. Horvat) 17:05
3. NIAG B. Ritchie (13) (L. Mercer, B. Beukeboom) 1:45