Sports stats



OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Bury Spirit in Overtime, 3-2

March 6, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - Roberto Mancini scored twice against his former team, Nathan Day made 41 saves and Simon Slavicek scored the game-winning goal as the Flint Firebirds defeated the visiting Saginaw Spirit in overtime, 3-2, on Wednesday night at the Dort Financial Center.

With Flint trailing 2-1 early in the third period, Matthew Jenken controlled the puck at the right-wing circle and sent a slap pass to the slot. Mancini swooped into the slot and deflected the shot up and over Andrew Oke's left pad for his second goal of the game, which knotted the score at two just over five minutes into the third period.

Saginaw mounted chances late in the third but the Firebirds kept them off the board. Flint killed off a penalty with less than four minutes remaining in regulation and then in the final minute, Jenken blocked a shot that was ticketed for the net, keeping the score tied at two and eventually pushing the game to overtime.

In the final minute of OT, Slavicek gained the zone with a defender in front of him. He cut to the right for a few strides, then hit the brakes and spun to his left, losing his defender in the process. From between the hash marks, he snapped a shot that darted over Oke's pad and below his glove to give the Birds a 3-2 win.

Mancini started the scoring late in the first period by capitalizing on a turnover. As a lazy Saginaw pass slid through the high slot, Mancini sprinted in from the blue line and pounced on it. In one fluid motion, Mancini snapped a wrist shot that sailed high past Oke's glove and gave Flint a 1-0 lead with 1:43 to play before the first intermission.

The Spirit tied things in the second with a pair of goals scored during four-on-four play. First, Rodwin Dionicio carried the puck to the left circle, shook his defender and sniped a wrist shot to the top corner far side, tying the game at one. Then, Josh Bloom snuck one past Day from high in the left circle just 15 seconds later to give Saginaw a 2-1 lead.

Day turned aside 41 of Saginaw's 43 shots to earn his 23rd victory of the season, Jenken picked up an assist in his 100th OHL game, and the Birds went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill against the league's third-best power play.

Flint improved its record to 27-29-3-1in the win while Saginaw moved to 44-15-1-1. The Firebirds will now hit the road for Kitchener to take on the Rangers on Friday night before returning home to host the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central