ST. CATHARINES – The Niagara IceDogs took a 2-1 series lead with a 5-3 win over the Oshawa Generals in front of a packed house at the Gatorade Garden City Complex Monday night.

The IceDogs opened the scoring just 63 seconds into the game as Ryan Strome potted his fourth of the playoffs with the help of

Jason Wilson and Jesse Graham to give the ‘Dogs an early 1-0 lead.

Niagara kept the pressure on early and Simon Gronvaldt picked up a loose puck at the point and blasted it past Peter Di Salvo to make it 2-0 with 17:38 left in the period.

The Generals then got into some penalty trouble taking two separate minor penalties around the midway point the period, and although the ‘Dogs didn’t capitalize on the 5-on-3, Andrew Agozzino did score moments later while one man up to make it 3-0 IceDogs.

Late in the period, the IceDogs managed to make it 4-0 when the play was brought to 4-on-4 with coincidental penalties. Darren Archibald potted his seventh of the season on a nifty backhand while Dougie Hamilton and Jesse Graham both recorded their second assists of the game on the play.

Niagara would take the 4-0 lead into the first intermission, leading the shot clock 16-13.

Scoreboard after first:
1. NIAG Strome (4) (Wilson, Graham) 1:03
1. NIAG Gronvaldt (1) (Doan, Archibald) 2:22
1. NIAG Agozzino (4) (D. Hamilton, F. Hamilton) 10:06 (PP)
1. NIAG Archibald (7) (D. Hamilton, Graham) 18:55

The second period began with a physical tone as both clubs traded several big hits – one being a hit from behind on Ryan Strome. Jason Wilson answered the hit on his star player and received a roughing penalty, bringing the play to 4-on-4.

Several more incidences occurred throughout the frame and more penalties were taken, but no offensive action would be seen until the dying seconds.

Generals forward Andy Andreoff was disturbed during a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot with just seven seconds left and beat Visentin to give the game a 4-1 score after 40 minutes of play.

However, the Gens also took a minor penalty on the play for roughing after the whistle, and the IceDogs would start the third with a 1:53 man advantage.

The Generals killed the penalty off along with a few more in the first half of the third and began to show some urgency, controlling the play in the IceDogs zone around the midway mark of the period.

The momentum led to a goal as Scott Laughton picked up a rebound in the slot and put it past Visentin to bring the game to a 4-2 score with seven minutes remaining.

The ‘Dogs took a penalty late in the game and the Generals pulled their goalie in efforts to tie the game.

They were able to capitalize, but the goal came due to a generals player tossing Visentin’s stick behind the IceDogs net giving Visentin the disadvantage and allowing the Generals to convert to make it 4-3 with 24 seconds left.

However, the IceDogs managed to score on the empty net, increasing their lead to 5-3 and allowing them to take a 2-1 series lead going into game four.

Scoreboard:
1. NIAG Strome (4) (Wilson, Graham) 1:03
1. NIAG Gronvaldt (1) (Doan, Archibald) 2:22
1. NIAG Agozzino (4) (D. Hamilton, F. Hamilton) 10:06 (PP)
1. NIAG Archibald (7) (D. Hamilton, Graham) 18:55
2. OSH Andreoff (3) 19:53 (PS)
2. OSH Laughton (1) (Valentine) 13:01
3. OSH Jenner (6) (Thomas, de Haan) 19:13 (PP)
3. NIAG Agozzino (5) 19:51 (EN)