DRYDEN, ONTARIO – The Dryden Memorial Arena was packed with 306 Ice Dogs fans last night to watch the Dryden Ice Dogs take on the Fort Frances Lakers in game four of the SIJHL in semi-final action. The Ice Dogs who where a perfect 6-0 before losing to the Lakers in game three on Tuesday were looking for redemption and strangle hold on the Lakers last night and put them on the brink of elimination.
The Dogs started the scoring with the first goal on the strong and effective power play when the Lakers’ Zach McCool took a hooking penalty at 9:02 on the first.
The Ice Dogs Ryan Lobreau took advantage of the penalty and picked up a pass from Len Pelletier and Thomas Greene to put the puck in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
Dryden found themselves in penalty trouble late in the first period but the Ice Dogs’ penalty killing unit held of the Lakers on both occasions and ended the first period with the 1-0 lead even though they were outshot 10-6. The play of SIJHL goalie Ian Perrier stopped every piece of rubber that came to the net.
To start the second period, Dryden again found the sin bin and at 0;44 of the second period Thomas Greene took a high sticking penalty and the Lakers got another chance on the power play. Again Perrier stood tall in net and the penalty kill was again a success and the Lakers failed to take advantage.
Dryden got their second chance on the power play when Lakers’ Marty McFadden took a boarding penalty to give Dryden the man advantage, an advantage that the power play unit failed to capitalize.
But at 9:52 on the second period the Ice Dogs’ Greene was awarded a penalty shot against Lakers goalie Tyler Ampe. Greene popped it in giving Dryden a 3-0 lead after Dallas Crum scored at 6:28 of the second period.
The Lakers finally solved the puzzle that was Ian Perrier as Jace Baldwin scored at 10:24 of the second period to bring the Lakers within two of the home town Dogs.
The third period got off to a quick start for Dryden with a goal from Alex Galbraith to put the Ice Dogs up 4-1. The Dogs found themselves in penalty trouble in the third taking three penalties including two to Lobreau one for boarding and one for high sticking with the Lakers getting close to the Dogs on the scoreboard Dryden was able to run the clock out and pull off the 5-3 victory in front of a home town crowd.
Both teams needed a better output from the power play units with Fort Frances going 1 for 7 and Dryden finishing 1 for 3 in the game. Dryden was out shot 30-21 but were still able to pull out the win and put Fort Frances on the brink of elimination. The Ice Dogs are now one win away from the Dudley Hewitt Cup finals. Game 5 is tonight at the Fort Frances Arena where the Lakers will try to stave off elimination
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