The Niagara IceDogs were able to edge the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Thursday night by a 4-3 count, as they were lifted by Alex Friesen's two goals. 

After a sizzling start to the season with seven straight wins out of the gate, the Greyhounds came into the game losing five straight and gave the IceDogs all they could handle in a fast paced hockey game with a combined 85 shots on net.

Mark Visentin had another strong performance, and was able to rob Jake Carrick early in the game as he stuck out his right pad and took away a seemingly easy tap-in for the Greyhounds forward. 

The save proved to be monumental for the IceDogs, as the Niagara power play was able to strike moments after when Andrew Fritsch scored his third goal of the season by banging one past Greyhounds netminer Robin Lehner at the 8:00 mark. 

As the Period wound down the line of Dylan MacEachern, Marco Insam and Mitchell Theoret were able to hem the Greyhounds in their own end and force Lehner to come up with a series of saves keeping it 1-0 IceDogs after twenty minutes of play. 

The IceDogs continued to apply the pressure early and often in the second frame, and Alex Friesen made it 2-0 by wiring one over the glove of Lehner for his eighth of the season at the 7:39 mark. 

Sault Ste. Marie was able to hang around in the second period thanks to a couple of remarkable saves by Lehner, allowing them to eventually cut the lead in half when Carrick lifted one over the shoulder of Visentin making it 2-1 at the 12:59 mark.

After an Andrew Agozzino interference penalty and a Reggie Traccitto holding infraction, the Greyhounds took to the 5-on-3 advantage and were able to tie the game at two when Brock Beukeboom fired a bullet from the point making it 2-2 heading into the third. 

The IceDogs couldn't have asked for a better start to the final frame, as Andrew Agozzino waltzed in from behind the goal-line and lifted one over Lehner restoring the one-goal advantage 56 seconds into the period.

After an IceDogs penalty expired, highly touted prospect Daniel Catenacci scored on a beautiful individual effort which ended with a wrist shot beating Visentin and making it 3-3 at the 13:29 mark.

The IceDogs recaptured the lead minutes later when Chris DeSousa won a battle behind the Greyhounds net and fed Alex Friesen in front for his second of the night and team-leading ninth of the season making it 4-3 at the 15:26 mark. 

With the Greyhounds net empty, Visentin was able to make a series of great saves in the closing moments with the best coming on an explosive rush by Catenacci which finalized the 4-3 Niagara win.   

The IceDogs will now head to Erie to take on the Otters tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.  Niagara will then gear up for a matinee affair with the Battalion in Brampton on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  The Dogs next home game is October 29 when they welcome the Barrie Colts.  Fans are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes for a chance to win prizes, and the first 100 kids through the door will receive treat bags compliments of the Bulk Barn. 

Notes: The IceDogs power play was efficient going 2/6...2773 fans were in attendance...Shots were 47-38 in favour of Niagara... Catenacci(1G), DeSousa(2A), and Alex Friesen (2G) were the third, second, and first stars.

 Scoring
1. NIAG Fritsch, (3) (Insam, Shaw), 8:00 (PP)  
2. NIAG Friesen, (8) (Schwindt, DeSousa), 7:39   
2. SSM Carrick, (1) (Livingston), 12:59   
2. SSM Battani, (1) (Beukeboom, Rachunek), 18:37   
3. NIAG Agozzino, (8) (DeSousa, Traccitto), 0:56 (PP)  
3. SSM Catenacci, (2) (Beukeboom), 13:29   
3. NIAG Friesen, (9) (DeSousa), 15:26   

-Brett Vancise