Oshawa puts a leash on the IceDogs
Oshawa’s Michael Turner storms across the crease during Game 2 action at the General Motors Centre.
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
After a heavy-hitting weekend, the Oshawa Generals now hold a two-game lead over the Niagara IceDogs in the Eastern Conference semi-final.
After a 5-3 win in the first game of the series, the Generals rolled into Sunday’s game with confidence after beating a team they couldn’t seem to figure out all throughout regular season, dropping both of the two meetings with the Niagara club.
It seemed the Gens were keen to avoid their trend of a starting slow in the game, coming out in the first period and peppering Niagara netminder Brandon Hope with 20 shots in the first 20 minutes.
Michael Dal Colle put the Gens on the board with a goal during four-on-four play. Michael McCarron added another before the first period buzzer to give Oshawa a two-goal lead.
However, the slow start showed itself a little later in this one, with the Generals’ play dropping off in the second. A pair of penalties to Oshawa gave the IceDogs the opportunity to get on the board, which they took full advantage of.
“It’s tough to play a full 60 (minutes) and we have to if we want to win this series, but I thought we had a lull in the second,” said head coach DJ Smith following the game. “We started to cheat and when you cheat, you allow any team…the team that finishes dead last can play with you when you cheat. I thought we went back in the third period to the way we play.
“You can’t afford to have big gaps like that because, easily, they could have come in and scored two or three goals and then we’re trailing in the third and you never know what happens.”
Oshawa returned in the third fresh, and looking to extend their lead, which they did in style.
Four pucks would find their way into the back of the net to secure the Gens’ 6-1 win, coming off the sticks of Tobias Lindberg, Matt Mistele, Hunter Smith and Stephen Desrocher.
For captain Josh Brown, sticking to the game plan was the biggest successor factor for his team.
“I think just our style of play, we didn’t let them off the hook in the first period. We were just chipping it in and going to work and grinding them down low,” he said.
Oshawa, known for its ability to hit and grind teams down, was met with a very aggressive Niagara club looking to match whatever the Gens dished out.
Smith welcomed the attempt, but is confident in his team’s ability to stay strong through as many as seven games.
“We’re a pretty physical team, so I welcome any team to come in and try and bang with us,” he said.
Brown, who knows his team is ready for the games ahead, agrees.
“It’s pretty physical, it’s fun, but this is the playoffs. We’ve grown to expect that and that’s why we’re a pretty big team for a run like this, so we’re ready for it,” he said.
The Generals played Game 3 in Niagara April 14, the results of which were not available as of The Oshawa Express press deadline. Game 4 of the series will be April 16, with Game 5, if needed, on April 17 at the General Motors Centre.