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OHL Flint Firebirds

Attack Surge Late, Defeat Firebirds 8-4

December 10, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds welcomed in the Attack for the first time this season for the first of a back-to-back Friday night at the Dort Financial Center and a thrilling first two periods ended with an 8-4 final in favor of the visitors after the Attack reeled off the final seven goals of the game. Ian Michelone got the start in net for the Firebirds and Nick Chenard got the start for Owen Sound.

On Teddy Bear Toss, the Firebirds gave the fans what they wanted early. Luca D'Amato let a shot from the point fly that was initially saved by Chenard, but Piercey found the open net at the side of the cage to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead and sent the teddy bears flying 4:10 into the 1st. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) picked up the secondary assist.

28 after the delay for teddy bear clean-up, Attack captain Mark Woolley cross-checked Zacharie Giroux into the boards and picked up a 5-minute major and game misconduct. 10 seconds into the non-releasable penalty, Gavin Hayes ripped one high to the glove of Chenard to give the Firebirds a 2-0 lead at the 4:48 mark of the 1st period. D'Amato and Zacharie Giroux added assists.

Stepan Machacek took a hooking penalty 1:59 into the major penalty and the Firebirds had a full 2:00 5-on-3. With the 5-on-3 dwindling down, Gavin Hayes picked one up from the same circle as his first goal and this time went low to the blocker short-side on Chenard to add his second power-play tally of the game and sixth goal of the season. Just like the first goal, D'Amato and Giroux picked up the assist, and it was 3-0 Firebirds not even 10 minutes into the game.

The Attack wouldn't lay down for long. For the rest of the frame, they dictated possession in the offensive end and finally, a shot from Andrew Perrott at the point was deflected in the high slot by Colby Barlow passed Michelone to cut the Firebirds lead to 3-1. It was Perrott's 18th assist of the year and Barlow's fourth goal (11th total) vs. the Firebirds this year at the 12:17 mark.

The 1st Period ended with the Attack outshooting the Firebirds 16-10. They went 0-for-1 on the powerplay and the 'Birds went 2-for-3.

The 2nd Period had some great pace, with few whistles, for most of the frame. The first goal of the period was scored 8:26 into the frame with the Firebirds short-handed. Brennan Othmann stole a pass at neutral ice, split the defense, and was in all alone on Chenard. He buried one with a "change-up" that caught Chenard off guard on his glove side. It was Othmann's 18th goal of the year, unassisted, to give the Firebirds a 4-1 lead.

While it seemed like Flint was going to have a three-goal lead heading into the break, things changed quickly late in the 2nd. Stepan Machacek crashed the net on an odd-man rush and after Deni Goure put one off the pad of Michelone, picked it up and sent the puck into the back of the net to cut it to 4-2 with 3:28 remaining in the 2nd.

Just 10 seconds later, Ethan Burroughs stole an outlet pass in the slot and buried one upstairs blocker side behind Michelone, and all of a sudden it was a 1-goal game with 3:18 left in the frame. The second period ended 4-3. Owen Sound went 0-for-1 on the powerplay in the period but outshot the Firebirds 12-10 in the middle frame.

The 3rd Period started back-and-forth before the Attack were able to generate their third power-play of the game. Not even a minute into the man advantage, a log jam in front sent a bouncing puck over the blocker-side shoulder of Michelone to tie it up at 4. Ethan Burroughs was credited with his second goal of the night with Machacek credited with the lone assist.

The Attack attack continued after a Firebirds turnover in their own end, Cedrick Guindon stole the puck in the high slot and found Servac Petrovsky on the near side post who put it past Michelone to give the Attack their first lead of the game just 1:16 after they had tied the game up.

Ethan Burroughs then stole the puck at neutral ice and sprung Petrovsky up the near-side wing who ripped one high to the glove of Michelone from the top of the circle to take a 6-4 lead at the 12:31 mark of the 3rd Period. Deni Goure added the empty-net goal, and Logan Lesage another insurance tally to bring the final score of 8-4. Final shots read 47-32 in favor of the Attack and 34-28 they led in face-offs. They also went 1-for-4 on the powerplay, while the Firebirds went 2-for-4.

Next Home Game: The Firebirds will host the Attack again on Saturday evening. Saturday's contest is Old Newsboys Night, Sponsored by Dort Financial Credit Union. Fans can bring a toy (recommended minimum $10 value) and get a FREE ticket compliments of Dort Financial Credit Union. Toys will be collected leading up to the game at the "Birds Nest," the official Firebirds Merchandise Store. The Firebirds will be wearing special Santa-themed Jerseys that will be available in a Live Auction at the conclusion of the game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Financial Center. Tickets are on sale NOW here: ETIX.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2021


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