Bertucci, Firebirds Drop Kingston in Overtime, 2-1
March 9, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
FLINT, Mich. - Nathan Day made 29 saves on 30 shots, Coulson Pitre scored and Tristan Bertucci buried the game-winning goal as the Flint Firebirds beat the Kingston Frontenacs in overtime, 2-1, on Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center.
Pitre opened the scoring past the midway point of the second period while the Firebirds were shorthanded. Oliver Peer forced a turnover and started an odd man rush with Pitre to his right. Peer fed Pitre who carried the puck to the right circle and loaded up a wrist shot. His shot sailed over the glove of Mason Vaccari and Flint took a 1-0 lead.
Kingston pressured later in the second period but could not get anything through Day, who made a flurry of saves in the final minutes of the frame. The Frontenacs tied the game less than two minutes into the third with a crafty back-door play. Paul Ludwinski brought the puck up the right side of the zone and hit the brakes atop the faceoff dot. He slipped a pass through traffic to Christopher Thibodeau who was crashing the net at the back post. Thibodeau one-timed a shot past the lunging Day and the game was tied at two.
The game remained tied through the remainder of regulation and eventually progressed to overtime. Two minutes into the OT period, Bertucci took a pass at the back door and curled back near the blue line as though he was going to carry into the neutral zone. Instead, he turned and sprinted toward the slot a step ahead of his defender. Bertucci dragged the puck from his forehand to his backhand and lifted a shot over the outstretched pad of Vaccari for the game-winning goal.
Day finished with 29 saves on 31 shots, Bertucci's goal was his eighth of the season and Pitre now has 10 points in his last seven games.
The Firebirds improved their record to 28-30-3-1 and are now just points back of the three-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference standings, currently occupied by the Guelph Storm, Erie Otters and Owen Sound Attack. Kingston moved to 28-30-4-0 with its overtime loss.
Flint will return to action on Wednesday night on home ice against the Soo Greyhounds. Puck drop at the Dort Financial Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com
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