Dann's Hat Trick Overshadowed in 9-5 Loss to Rangers
March 8, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
KITCHENER, Ont. - Nolan Dann recorded his first career OHL hat trick and Coulson Pitre had three assists but the Flint Firebirds allowed nine goals and were beaten by the Kitchener Rangers, 9-5, on Friday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
The Rangers struck first early in the first period after forcing a turnover in the Flint zone. Luca Romano found Justin Bottineau in front of the net for a point-blank snap shot. It glanced off the glove of Nathan Day and bounced in to give Kitchener a 1-0 lead.
Flint then answered though when Pitre snapped a pass toward Dann in the attacking zone. Dann curled below the net and worked his way to the right circle. From the dot he wired a wrist shot that flew through Tristan Malboeuf's legs and tied the game at one.
The Firebirds took the lead soon thereafter when Oliver Peer won an attacking zone draw to himself. He worked the puck back towards the right circle where Alex Kostov pounced on it. Kostov flicked a wrist shot top shelf and past Malboeuf to make the score 2-1.
Kitchener then rattled off five goals to take control of the game. First, a Flint defensive zone giveaway led to Luke Ellinas alone in the slot for a snap shot that got by Day. Then, early in the second, Eduard Sale sped down the left wing and fired a shot past Day's glove. Ellinas struck for his second goal with a backhander off a breakaway. Later, Matthew Sop buried a shot from the high slot to extend the lead to three. Finally, Ellinas skated to the left circle, threw on the brakes and darted a wrist shot top shelf and in to complete his hat trick and make the score 6-2.
That would be it for Day who was lifted in favor of Jacob Brown after making 13 saves on 19 shots.
Flint got back on the board after Pitre sprung Dann with a stretch pass that sent him into the attacking zone with a breakaway. Dann carried the puck in and sent a wrist shot low past Malboeuf's glove, cutting the deficit back to three.
But Kitchener struck for two more in the second period as both Trent Swick and Romano beat Brown to extend the Rangers lead to 8-3.
In the third, Pitre fed Dan who carried the puck toward the right side of the net. He put a move on and shook his way to the top of the crease. Dann tucked a shot past the sprawling Malboeuf and in to give him his first career OHL hat trick.
Kitchener answered though as Romano deflected a shot from just above the goal line that got through Brown on the short side. The Firebirds added one final goal in the third with a power play tally. Dann fed Roberto Mancini for a one-timer at the blue line that he blasted toward the net. Connor Clattenburg deflected from the top of the crease and the puck skipped through Malboeuf and in to make the score 9-5.
Dann finished with three goals and an assist, his second four-point game in his last four outings, Pitre's three assists gave him his team-leading sixth three-point game and Clattenburg extended his point streak to five games with his third period goal.
The Firebirds fell to 27-30-3-1 in the loss while Kitchener improved to 40-20-2-0. Flint will now return home to take on the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday night. Puck drop at the Dort Financial Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2024
- Luke Ellinas Dominates in 9-5 Win Over Flint - Kitchener Rangers
- Christopoulos Nets Hatty as Spirit Defeat Frontenacs, 7-2 - Saginaw Spirit
- Dann's Hat Trick Overshadowed in 9-5 Loss to Rangers - Flint Firebirds
- Spitfires Fall in OT in Sudbury 9-8 After Wild Affair - Windsor Spitfires
- Crucial Points on the Line in Kitchener on Friday Night - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Begin March Home Schedule with Kingston Friday Night - Saginaw Spirit
- Rangers Host Firebirds for International Women's Day Game on Friday - Kitchener Rangers
- Celebrating the Women Who Drive the Bulldogs Forward - Brantford Bulldogs
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