The Niagara IceDogs defeated the Ottawa 67’s 5-4 in an extremely hard fought battle in Game Four of a best of seven series in front of a sold out crowd at the Gatorade Garden City Complex Thursday night. Johnson Andrews led the Dogs with 2 goals, and picked up his first yet well deserved Molson 1st Star of the Game, while Alex Friesen notably chipped in with 3 assists.
 
Johnson Andrews set the physical tone as he laid a bone-crushing hit on 67’s offensive juggernaut Tyler Toffoli just a minute into the game, which got the IceDogs bench and fans going early on.

However, Andrews received a minor penalty for charging on the play, and Ottawa was able to capitalize 92 seconds into their man advantage. Corey Cowick put one past Visentin to give the 67’s an early 1-0 lead.

Johnson Andrews continued to make his presence known in the early going by scoring his first goal of the post season on his first shift after taking the charging penalty. Not only did Andrews redeem himself with the goal, but he gave the Dogs some life, and the game a 1-1 tie. The goal was also the IceDogs first shot of the game.

The scoring would continue at a quick pace as Ottawa regained their lead at the 7:45 mark on a goal by Anthony Nigro, giving the game a score of 2-1.

The IceDogs penalty troubles would continue to cost them, as Tyler Toffoli converted for the 67’s on the power play at the 14:14 mark, making them 2 for 3 with the man advantage in the first, and giving them a 3-1 lead.

Ottawa was up 3-1, out-shooting Niagara 18-8 after the first period of play.

The IceDogs started the second with a man advantage and took a turn converting on the power play just 24 seconds into the period. Matt Petgrave notched his first career playoff goal on the play by blasting a shot from the point past Chris Perugini, and the 67’s lead was cut to 3-2.

Niagara’s momentum continued to peak in the second period. The IceDogs 4th line chipped in with a huge goal by Michael Hasson to tie the game 3-3, before Johnson Andrews followed up with his second goal of the night on a 2-on-1 rush with Marco Insam to give the Dogs a 4-3 lead.

The aggression and superb play displayed by the IceDogs in the second proved to effectively shake up the 67’s team, as Julien Demeres took an undisciplined minor penalty for hooking at the 12:49 mark.

This allowed Niagara to capitalize once again on the power play; this time Reggie Traccitto potted one after letting a rocket go from the point – 5-3 IceDogs late in the second. (Alex Friesen also earned his third assist of the night on the Traccitto goal.)

Niagara would take a 5-3 lead into the second intermission; holding Ottawa to just 5 shots in the second period, while picking up 12 shots of their own.

It was déjà vu in the third period as Marc Zanetti scored on the power play for the 67’s to bring the game within one goal, just like he did in Game Three on Tuesday night.

The game's chippy tone peaked in the last minute of the third, as Corey Cowick ran at Reggie Traccitto behind the Niagara net, and IceDogs captain Andrew Agozzino had to be the one to answer the bell and take on Travis Gibbons as a result of the scrum.

That is where the action would cease, and the IceDogs held on to a 5-4 lead to pick up their first playoff victory, and take the series to at least Game Five.

The Gatorade Garden City Complex may very well have been the loudest it’s been all season. With the crowd cheering and the drums beating, there is no doubt the fan support helped the Dogs find their groove in Game Four.

Game Five of the series will take place at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa this Sunday, March 28th, with a special start time of 1:00 p.m. Fans can catch the game live on TVCOGECO or listen to Chuck and Ted on 105.1 The River.

Thanks again IceDogs fans! We hope to see you once again in Game Six at the Gatorade Garden City Complex on Monday night.

- Jeff Blay, Media Relations


Scoreboard:
1. OTT Cowick, (1) (Cuma, Martindale), 2:36 (PP)    
1. NIAG Andrews, (1) (Friesen), 4:54    
1. OTT Nigro, (3) (Merrett, Cowick), 7:45    
1. OTT Toffoli, (4) (Smith, Gibbons), 14:14 (PP)    
2. NIAG Petgrave, (1) (Friesen), 0:24 (PP)    
2. NIAG Hasson, (1) (Theoret, Hamilton), 12:01    
2. NIAG Andrews, (2) (MacEachern), 12:28    
2. NIAG Traccitto, (1) (Friesen, Agozzino), 14:39 (PP)    
3. OTT Zanetti, (2) (Lindsay, Cuma), 12:50 (PP)

Three Stars:
1. Johnson Andrews
2. Alex Friesen
3. Corey Cowick

Honourable Mention: Mark Visentin - 32 Saves