Day Backstops Firebirds to 5-3 Win in Barrie
October 19, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
BARRIE, Ont. - Braeden Kressler netted his first two goals of the season and Nathan Day made 39 saves on 42 shots as the Flint Firebirds kicked off their road trip with a 5-3 win over the Barrie Colts on Thursday night at Sadlon Arena.
The Firebirds lit the lamp twice in the first to jump to the early lead. First, Nolan Dann carried up the left-wing side and curled behind the Barrie cage before feeding Coulson Pitre in the right circle. Pitre one-timed the pass from the faceoff dot, beating Sam Hillebrandt high on the blocker side for his first of the season to put Flint on top, 1-0.
Later, just past the midway point of the first, the Firebirds set up in the Colts zone and a loose puck caused a scramble just beyond the Barrie crease. Marko Stojkov knocked the loose puck directly to Dann at the inner edge of the left circle. He blasted a slap shot through Hillebrandt's pads and extended the Flint lead to two.
The Colts cut their deficit in half on their second of five power-play chances in the first period. Beau Jelsma slapped one on goal from the right point and Cole Beaudoin deflected it past Day for his fourth of the season.
Barrie tied the game in the second period when Shamar Moses and Tai York stormed into the attacking zone. Moses passed through two defensemen and hit York in stride for a quick one-timer that got past Day to tie things at two.
In the final minute of the second period, the Firebirds forced a turover in the attacking zone and Gavin Hayes flicked a pass to Kressler in the slot. He lifted a wrister over the blocker for his first goal of the season, putting the Firebirds back on top, 3-2.
The Birds went on their third man-advantage early in the third, and they converted for their second power-play marker of the season. Stojkov lifted a heavy wrist shot from the left point and Ethan Hay was atop the goal crease to redirect home for his second of the season, extending the advantage to 4-2.
Still trailing by two, the Colts called Hillebrandt to the bench for an extra attacker with more than three and a half minutes remaining in regulation. It paid off as Beau Akey rocketed a shot from the right point through traffic to pull his club within one.
Hillebrandt was pulled again but this time it worked to Flint's advantage when Giroux's pass put Kressler on a breakaway on the empty net. He tucked it home for his second of the night, extending the lead to 5-3.
Flint improved to 2-5-0-0 on the campaign and Barrie fell to 4-3-0-0. The Firebirds continue their road trip on Friday night in Sudbury for a meeting with the Wolves. Puck drop at Sudbury Community Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2023
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