Bressette Scores 15th, Erie Drops Fifth-Straight in Loss to Niagara
The first period would begin in Erie’s favor, with the Otters recording three shots on goal before the IceDogs could get something on frame, but a hard hit from behind right in front of the net would award Niagara a penalty shot. Gavin Bryant (14) would be the one to step up and take it, facing off against Charlie Burns – a former IceDog. Bryant would find the back of the net to put the IceDogs on the board first just over two minutes into the first period. The Otters would go on the power play a little over ten minutes into the frame, and a turnover would see Alex Assadourian (6) on the breakaway to put Niagara up 2-0. Gavin Bryant (15) would find his second goal of the night 12:49 into the period to widen the gap and take further advantage of an Otters’ defense caught on their heels. By the end of the first period, the Otters would outshoot the IceDogs 15-12 and trail 3-0.
Not even ten seconds into the second period, the gloves would drop. Pano Fimis faced off with Ethan Czata and got his licks in before the two would be sent off with a five-minute penalty for fighting. The Otters would see an onslaught of offensive power throughout four-on-four play, logging seven shots within those five minutes without breaking through before even-strength play would resume. Another power play would be drawn for the Otters, but they would be unable to capitalize on any opportunity. The IceDogs would find the back of the net for the fourth time off a shot from Ivan Galiyanov (5) just over 16 minutes into the second frame. Two minutes later, a Niagara breakaway shot would go under review after being called a no-goal, which would then be overturned to make the score 5-0. The goal would be credited to Ryan Roobroeck (20) and the Otters would go into the second intermission still scoreless.
Jacob Gibbons would enter the game in the crease for the Otters to start the third period, where the Otters would still lead in shots 30-26 despite being down. Ten minutes would pass in the third and neither team would break through. With exactly eight minutes left in the period, Gavin Bryant (16) would score a third time, recording his first hat trick of the season and making it a 6-0 game. The Otters would finally break through and keep themselves from getting shut out thanks to a Brett Bressette (15) goal at the 15:50 minute mark. The game would end 6-1 in favor of the Niagara IceDogs, extending the Otters’ losing streak to five. Despite outshooting their opponent 45-30, the Otters couldn’t get on the right side of a shot in a game riddled with miscues and miscommunication.
