Icedogs edge Barons, 2-1

Bozeman won on Luke Bennett's goal 29 seconds after Cleveland tied it.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- A screen and steal set up both of the Bozeman Icedogs' goals and their goalie withstood a late barrage of desperation shots from the Cleveland Barons.
That combination of play enabled the top-seeded Icedogs from Montana to emerge with a 2-1 victory in Wednesday's opener of the North American Hockey League Robertson Cup Championship Tournament at the Ice Zone.
Graham McManamin's 20-foot, power-play goal against Barons' goalie Bobby Jarosz, thanks to Ryan Bunger's screen and Josh Heidinger's and Kyle Bailey's assists, gave the Icedogs a 1-0 lead at 10:30 of the first period on only their second shot of the game.
After a scoreless second period, Tomas Petruska scored for the Barons from close range in front of the net off a rebound against Icedogs' goalie Matt Dalton at 11:33 of the third period to pull the Barons even at 1-1. Josh Leonard was credited with an assist.
But a mere 29 seconds later, Quinn Ellingson stole the puck near the Barons' blueline and fed it to Luke Bennett, who took advantage of a 3-on-1 situation against Jarosz.
Bennett fired a shot from the top of a circle to quickly give back the lead to Bozeman. Ellingson and Phil Johnson got the assists.
Dalton preserves win
Then Dalton, who was hard to trick and penetrate all game in the net, turned back an avalanche of late shots by the Barons to preserve the win.
Then he symbolized his late success and the victory by carrying the puck away from the net after his final stop.
Bozeman coach John LaFontaine knows he has a gem in goalie Dalton, whose tenacity saved the game.
"He seals the bottom of the net," LaFontaine said. "He recovers and tracks the puck real well. He's quick and poised."
The Icedogs (49-9), who won the West Division championship and the ensuing West playoffs, advanced in the winner's bracket to play Friday at a time to be announced. Their opponent will be against the loser of Game 4 set today at 7:30 p.m. between the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and Southern Minnesota loser.
The Barons (35-20) placed second in the North Division behind the U.S. National Team but beat the U.S. team in the playoffs to gain the tourney berth.
Today at 2 p.m., the Barons will play in the loser's bracket against Texas.
The Barons dominated the game early on offense with a flurry of goal attempts, but Dalton repulsed the attack until his team's offense could regroup, which it did with McManamin's goal that surprised an unsuspecting Jarosz.
"We were tight the first period. We were fumbling the puck, making bad passes, took penalties and they had three or four power plays," LaFontaine said. But later, "We started to take the game over offensively. Our defensive play was strong all game."
Barons dominate early
Barons' coach John Fritsche said his team "surprised [the Icedogs] a little bit" early in the game.
"They have a great team and we came out with a great attitude. But once they got their game going, they were tough," Fritsche said. "They have smart players and they adjusted and didn't make any turnovers."
LaFontaine said Bunger blocked Jarosz' view of McManamin for the screen.
"Ryan Bunger screened the goalie. [The goalie] didn't see it coming," said LaFontaine of McManamin's goal.
The coach said Ellingson's steal near the Barons' blueline set up Bennett's goal that snapped the 1-1 tie.
"Quinn Ellingson stole the puck and [Bennett] was there. It was a [3-on-1] situation. He was at the top of the circle and let it fly from the circle. It was a heck of a shot."
Bennett is hard-hitter
LaFontaine said Bennett hits the puck hard.
"He got some heat on it. It went into the goal off the right pad of [Jarosz]."
Fritsche admitted Bunger's screen was outstanding.
"It was a great screen. [Jaroz] never saw it," said Fritsche, who blamed poor blueline play for the defeat.
"We turned the puck over on the blueline," Fritsche said. "Those things happen. They had three guys coming in [on Bennett's goal]. They could walk in and take a shot. They had the advantage."
Dalton had 25 saves to Jarosz' 27. Bozeman out-shot Cleveland, 29-26.
kovach@vindy.com