The Niagara IceDogs are 1-0 heading into an exhibition game on Thursday night against the visiting Brantford Bulldogs, but the Ontario Hockey League’s pre-season record actually is 2-1.

That’s how many “games within a game” Niagara won after coming back from a two-goal deficit in a 3-2 victory over the Flint Firebirds in Krys Barch’s debut as IceDogs head coach.

Saturday night’s game before an announced crowd of 1,002 at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines was the pre-season opener for both teams, but the Firebirds, bus legs and all, hit the ice much more ready to play. Flint outshot the hosts 19-3 and led 2-0 after 20 minutes of play.

During the first intermission, Barch, a one-time pro whose 13-year career was highlighted by parts of six seasons with the Dallas Stars, as well as two wit

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