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Wolves Lose 4-2 to IceDogs

The Wolves were hoping for a repeat of opening night, but instead their losing streak was extended to nine straight games after a 4-2 loss at the new Meridian Centre, the new home of the Niagara IceDogs.
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The Sudbury Wolves play their final home double-header this weekend when the Peterborough Petes visit on Friday night, followed by the Mississauga Steelheads on Sunday. File photo
The Wolves were hoping for a repeat of opening night, but instead their losing streak was extended to nine straight games after a 4-2 loss at the new Meridian Centre, the new home of the Niagara IceDogs.

The Wolves beat the IceDogs 3-1 to start the season, but after the loss Saturday night their record drops to 1-9.

Head coach Paul Fixter says it is the same problem that has plagued the team since opening night.

“We had difficulty getting scoring chances and creating offence ... and that’s been a problem all year obviously,” said Fixter after the game.

“It’s a work in progress as I've said in the past and we just have to find a way to get through it.”

The Wolves didn’t come out with the same jump they had Friday night in Erie and found themselves down 2-0 at the end of the first period.
The IceDogs got the only goal of the second period and took a 3-0 lead into the third.

The Wolves got a boost at the 5:40 mark of the third period when Matt Schmalz came in off the right wing, cut to the front of the net and scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. The deficit was cut to 3-2 at 19:18 when the Wolves pulled goalie Troy Timpano and defenceman Jeff Corbett netted his second of the year. Despite a couple more chances the IceDogs sealed the win with an empty net goal at 19:42.

“We did make a game of it in the third period, but we just didn’t generate enough offence in the first 40 minutes,” said Fixter. “We can’t keep relying on the final period to win hockey games.”

It’s frustrating ... I’m at a loss of words. We keep impressing upon them the things that we feel are important, that’s all we can do.”

Wolves forward David Zeppieri and the IceDogs' Hayden McCool were both thrown out of the game after a second period fight. They both received five minutes for fighting and game misconducts for a staged fight.

The Wolves lost co-captain Brody Silk early in the third period after he was hit with a puck during a clear-in attempt. He went to the dressing room, but did not return.

Nathan Pancel crawled to the bench after blocking a shot in the third, but was able to return.

The loss drops the Wolves into sole possession of last place in the Central Division, Eastern Conference and the overall OHL standings.

The Wolves are back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie to face the Greyhounds before returning home for a pair of weekend home games Friday night against the Peterborough Petes with the Erie Otters in town Saturday night.

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