PLYMOUTH – Connor Chatham and Zach Lorentz scored goals in the shootout and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped Billy Jenkins and Brendan Perlini in the session as the Plymouth Whalers defeated the Niagara IceDogs, 4-3, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday at Compuware Arena.
Plymouth has won four straight shootouts – and four of its last five games – to improve to 15-21-0-4, eighth in the Western Conference. Niagara is 12-21-2-4, eighth in the Eastern Conference.
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Rookies scored all three Plymouth goals. First star Francesco Vilardi scored twice (6-7), both in the first period, while Cullen Mercer scored his first OHL goal in the second period.
Niagara never led, but came back from deficits of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 before losing. Eric Ming (16), Luke Mercer (2) and Brendan Perlini (24) scored for Niagara. Perlini’s goal came at 19:31 of the third period with the goaltender pulled to send the game into overtime.
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Nedeljkovic stopped 39-of-42 shots to backstop the Whalers in the win. He’s been named a star in three straight starts, dating back to Dec. 29 in the Whalers’ 2-1 win in a shootout at Comerica Park over London.
Vilardi got things rolling at 2:10 of the first period to give Plymouth a 1-0 lead, when a turnover led to Matt Mistele's pass from the left circle to Vilardi in front and he made no mistake.
"I didn't have to do much," Vilardi said. "Matt made the play and I tapped it in."
After Erie Ming tied the game at 1-1 for Niagara at 7:42, Vilardi scored again to give Plymouth a 2-1 lead at 8:35 of the first period, following up Gianluca Curcuruto's shot from the point and batting home the rebound in front of Niagara goaltender Blake Richard.
The same script followed in the second period, with both Mercers (not related) scoring. Luke Mercer tied the game at 2-2 for Niagara, capping good pressure in the Plymouth zone with a shot from the high slot that Nedeljkovic appeared to be screened on.
But 1:42 later, the Whalers' Mercer scored his first OHL goal, started when Lorentz skated wide along the right boards in the Niagara zone and fed Mercer at the hashmarks, who buried the shot, mid-shelf, to restore the Whalers lead to 3-2
Trailing in the third period, Niagara pressured the entire frame, outshooting Plymouth, 14-3, finally tying the game with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker. Perlini's hard shot through traffic found the back of the net at 19:31.
After overtime solved nothing, the Whalers used their familiar formula to win the shootout.
The Whalers are off until next Friday when they play in Sarnia against the Sting (7 pm, www.plymouthwhalers.com). Plymouth’s next home game is next Saturday against Ottawa at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena.
