The Niagara IceDogs snapped the Ottawa 67’s 6-game winning streak with a much needed win in front of a crowd of 3,011 at the Gatorade Garden City Complex Saturday night.

The IceDogs fourth line gave them some early life when Michael Hasson blasted a shot from the top of the circle over the shoulder of Ottawa goalie Chris Perugini for his second of the season at the 3:43 mark of the first.

The action didn’t stop there as IceDog enforcer Johnson Andrews threw a bone-crushing hit which lead to Ottawa defender Marc-Anothony Zanetti challenging him to a fight.

Niagara kept the pressure on as leading scorer Andrew Agozzino carried the puck from end to end and backhanded it from behind the net banking it off Perugini’s foot and into the net for his 16th of the season, giving the Dogs an early 2-0 lead.

IceDog defenseman Shayne Rover took a necessary hooking penalty at the 12:37 of the first as he prevented an Ottawa player from tapping in a loose puck that bounced over Visentin. However, the penalty would lead to a power play goal by 67’s top scorer Thomas Nesbitt.

Niagara came right back as Michael Hasson notched his second of the game on a rebound shot from Matt Petgrave at the 16:54 mark of the first, prompting Ottawa to make a goalie change.

The IceDogs headed into the first intermission with a 3-1 lead on the 67’s.

Ottawa netted an early goal to start the second period as Tyler Toffoli put one past Visentin cutting the IceDog lead to one.

The IceDogs were given a few power play opportunities in the second where they produced many quality chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Niagara skated off the ice with a 3-2 lead after forty minutes of play.

Icedog tough-guy Matt Baldassarra set a physical tone in the third period when he got the crowd and bench going with a series of big hits.

Niagara’s penalty kill was top notch as Ottawa only capitalized once on 9 power play chances.

The IceDogs will travel to Oshawa tomorrow to face the Generals in a Sunday afternoon bout. The Dogs will then visit the Barrie Colts Thursday evening before heading back to Niagara to host the Sarnia Sting on Friday at 7:30pm in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game. The IceDogs will then face the Colts again Saturday when they play host to Barrie at the Gatorade Garden City Complex at 7pm.

All fans attending the game on Friday are encouraged to bring along a new or gently used stuffed animal to throw on the ice after the IceDogs first goal. All stuffed animals will be collected and will go to Niagara Victim Crisis Support Services where they will be used to help make the holiday season a little merrier for as many children as possible.

Tickets for these and all other IceDogs home games are still available and can be purchased at any IceDogs ticketing location

Scoreboard:
1. NIAG Hasson (2), 3:35
1. NIAG Agozzino (16), 9:02
1. OTT Nesbitt (15) (Nigro, Martindale), 14:10 (PP)
1. NIAG Hasson (3) (Petgrave, MacEachern), 16:54
2. OTT Toffoli (15) (Lindsay), 1:06