Special to Bullet News
The Niagara IceDogs knocked off the visiting Peterborough Petes 5-2 at the Jack Gatecliff Arena on Saturday night.
For the second straight night the IceDogs got off to a great start, as Brett Ritchie continued his hot streak by opening the scoring only 58 seconds in to give the IceDogs a 1-0 lead. The teams exchanged chances throughout the rest of the period. Shots after one favoured Niagara 11-9.
Peterborough upped the pressure in the second period, outshooting the IceDogs 21-7 in the frame. The IceDogs extended their lead to 2-0 at the 4:14 mark of the period as Ryan Strome fired one past Peterborough starter Michael Giugovaz.
The IceDogs kept things rolling as Anthony DiFruscia put one home less than two minutes later to extend the IceDogs lead to 3-0.
DiFruscia scored his second of the night 3:52 into the third to give the IceDogs an important goal, stretching the lead to 4-0. Peterborough finally beat Chris Festarini 5:53 into the third to make it a 4-1. Festarini continued his strong play, keeping the score at 4-1 for much of the period before Peterborough struck again with just over two minutes remaining to make it 4-2.
Strome added his second of the night into an empty net.
Festarini was solid in the victory, stopping 42 of 44 shots for the win.
The IceDogs return to action Wednesday night when they visit the Erie Otters.
SCORING SUMMARY
1. NIAG B. Ritchie, (16) (M. Theoret, R. Strome), 0:58
2. NIAG R. Strome, (13) (B. Hiddink, D. Hamilton), 4:14
2. NIAG A. DiFruscia, (5) (S. Shipley), 6:02
3. NIAG A. DiFruscia, (6) (S. Shipley, C. Verhaeghe), 3:52
3. PBO A. Quine, (5) (Z. Lorentz), 5:53
3. PBO D. Mathers, (3) , 17:40
3. NIAG R. Strome, (14) (M. Theoret, B. Ritchie), 19:03 (EN)
