The Niagara IceDogs fell to the Oshawa Generals 5-3 on Thursday night in a hard fought game.

Oshawa struck first, as former Niagara IceDogs draft pick Lucas Lessio beat Mark Visentin seven minutes into the game. Steven Shipley scored a late goal to tie the game heading into the first intermission. Niagara fired 16 shots on Oshawa's goaltender in the frame.

Ryan Strome converted on an IceDogs power play under two minutes into the second period to give Niagara a 2-1 lead. Alex Friesen and Dougie Hamilton, fresh off his OHL Defenceman of the Month distinction, assisted on the goal. The Generals would score twice in the period to retake the lead 3-2. Visentin would make 10 saves in the period to keep the game within one.

In the third period, Oshawa extended their lead to 4-2 before Jesse Graham would scored his third goal of the season, on another IceDogs power play, to trim the deficit back to one. Tom Kuhnhackl, acquired Wednesday from Windsor, would draw an assist on the play. The Generals would add one more goal before the final buzzer to pick up the 5-3 win.

The IceDogs will now travel to Kitchener on Friday, before hosting the Rangers on Saturday in the second game of a home-and-home series.


Game Summary
1. OSH Lessio, (9) (Carlisle), 6:49
1. NIAG Shipley, (3) (Doan, Jenkins), 19:43
2. NIAG Strome, (7) (D.Hamilton, Friesen), 1:40 (PP)
2. OSH Labardo, (7) (Hope), 8:45
2. OSH Jensen, (5) (Jenner), 12:09
3. OSH Andreoff, (4) (Graves), 4:56
3. NIAG Graham, (3) (Kuhnhackl, Beukeboom), 13:11 (PP)
3. OSH Jenner, (10) 15:29