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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Become First OHL Team to 20 Road Wins, Top Otters 3-2 Friday Night

March 4, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Erie, Penn. - The Firebirds won a game for the history books over the Otters in Erie Saturday night by a final score of 3-2. Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) scored the first goal in his 200th OHL game, Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) netted his team-leading 36th, and Coulson Pitre became the franchise's all-time leader in goals scored by a rookie with his 18th. For the home team, Brendan Sellan potted his 16th and Connor Lockhart scored his second goal in as many games against Flint. The goaltender battle was one of the best of the season, with veteran Luke Cavallin turning aside 37 of 39 shots en-route to his 26th victory of the campaign. First-year netminder Nolan Lalonde had another impressive outing, making 28 saves on 31 shots-faced. With the triumph, this Firebirds crew tied the most win road wins in the regular season in franchise history.

Both of these clubs showed a higher energy level than the opening frame of their Sunday afternoon tilt in Flint. The first 20 minutes showcased excellent goaltending on both ends of the ice, several odd-man rushes, an all-out breakaway, defenders sacrificing their bodies to block shots, and plenty of physicality along the boards. It was Vancouver Canucks' prospect Ethan Keppen who lit the lamp first, playing in his 200th OHL game. Keppen and Amadeus Lombardi emerged on a two-on-one up the left side of the zone. From the top of the circle, Keppen fed Lombardi in the high slot. With the goaltender and defenseman both pinching to their left, Lombardi returned the puck to Keppen in stride for a quick one-timer at the bottom of the circle. The puck made its way behind Lalonde for Keppen's 14th at 5:04.

Brendan Sellan tied the game at 9:57. He carried up the center of the offensive zone with a Flint defender all over him. At the hash marks, Sellan stopped on a dime and lifted a high wrister over the falling Firebirds' skater. The puck found twine high glove-side for his 16th of the campaign, unassisted.

The first period ended knotted at one. Shots favored the Otters 15-13. The Birds won more faceoffs by a 12-7 edge. Neither team visited the penalty box in the first 20 minutes.

The clubs would trade another pair of goals in the middle stanza. First, Coulson Pitre emerged on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity 90 seconds into the frame. The chance to become Flint's all-time top-scoring rookie was on his stick, but Lalonde came out to challenge and brought the crowd to their feet when he kicked the puck aside to preserve the tie. Two minutes later, Connor Lockhart was camped out in front of Cavallin and appeared to be set up for a point-blank one-timer opportunity. The puck wouldn't settle, though, and it hopped over his stick and rolled into the right corner. Lockhart chased it down and flipped it toward the net from the corner. To everyone's surprise, the puck ended up behind Cavallin, resulting in Lockhart's 19th, unassisted at 3:29.

Past the midway point of the second, the teams each had a man in the box and were playing four-on-four hockey. The Birds skated in on a three-on-two rush, with James Mayotte carrying up the left-wing boards. He fed Zacharie Giroux between the circles, who quickly dished to Brennan Othmann on the right. Othmann's ensuing one-timer slipped behind Lalonde just inside the far post for his team-leading 36th of the season at 12:32.

Second-period shots ended 14-9 to Erie's advantage. The frame ended with Flint having outdrew the Otters 15-11.

The intensity picked up in the third with the game tied. For more than 14 minutes the back-and-forth action with more blocked shots and big saves kept the more than 4,000 fans on the edge of their seats. Finally, Tag Bertuzzi fed rookie phenom, Coulson Pitre, in the left-wing circle. Pitre toe-dragged before sniping the top corner, far-side for his 18th at 14:23.

The Firebirds were called for a minor penalty with 2:12 remaining in regulation, and the Otters, still trailing by a goal, used their lone timeout. Erie gained and maintained possession for the majority of the final two minutes, and pulled Lalonde to skate 6-on-4 for roughly 1:45. Cavallin held his ground, making several key saves, especially on short-range rebound chances. There was one final faceoff in the Flint zone with under a second to play before the Birds officially celebrated their 20th road win of the season.

The Otters outshot Flint 39-31, and Flint won 34 of 60 faceoffs in the tilt. Both teams finished empty-handed on their power-play chances, with the Birds ending 0-for-3 and Erie finishing 0-for-5.

Next Up: The Firebirds continue their four-game road trip tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. (ET) in Erie before heading to Guelph to take on the Storm Sunday at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, March 12, the Birds will return to home ice to host the Guelph Storm for a 7:00 p.m. (ET) battle. It will be Teacher Appreciation Night sponsored by PFCU. Complimentary tickets will be available to all Educational Professionals with valid school ID work badges at the Dort Financial Center office. Tickets are on sale NOW here: ETIX.

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