Firebirds' Comeback Bid Falls Short, Spitfires Win 4-2 and Tie Series 2-2
Published on May 27, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
Flint, Mich. - More than 4,000 fans packed the sold-out Dort Financial Center Friday night for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Firebirds once again battled from behind, but a late empty-net goal tied the series at two before heading back to Windsor for Game 5 on Sunday. After falling behind 3-0, the Birds scored twice on the power play with goals from Gavin Hayes and Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs). Mathias Onuska logged his tenth playoff victory with 28 saves on 30 shots, while Luke Cavallin turned aside 34 of 37 shots against. Louka Henault was named the game's 'First Star' with a pair of assists. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) was the game's 'Second Star' with assists on both Flint tallies. 'Third Star' went to Will Cuylle (New York Rangers), who scored Windsor's second marker.
Windsor opened the scoring just 21 seconds into the contest. Louka Henault sent a breakout pass up the left-wing wall from his defensive end. Andrew Perrott received the pass in front of the Flint bench and carried it across the blue line as a two-on-one developed. From the top of the left circle, he fed Wyatt Johnston (Dallas Stars) at the right hash marks, and his quick wrister found the back of the net to the blocker side on Cavallin. It was Johnston's tenth of the playoffs.
Flint had 1:27 of 5-on-3 power-play time beginning nearly four minutes into the opening frame, but they were unable to generate any quality shots that weren't blocked on the way to Onuska.
Just beyond the 13-minute mark of the first, Henault skated behind the Flint goal with possession. He attempted a last-second pass to the slot, but the puck deflected off the side of the net. As the rubber launched into the air to Cavallin's left, it hit the leg of Will Cuylle (New York Rangers) and bounced in under the left pad for his ninth of the postseason at 13:13. The second assist went to Josh Currie.
The Firebirds would sustain good pressure, playing the majority of the balance of the period in the Windsor end. That lasted until the final minute when the Spits set up in Flint's zone and made some good passes around the perimeter. Currie dug the puck out of a battle at the left-wing half boards and hit Daniel D'Amico at the left faceoff dot. The overager made one quick forehand-to-backhand move before lifting the puck far-side just under the crossbar. D'Amico's fourth of the playoffs was recorded with nine seconds remaining until intermission.
The Birds trailed 3-0 at the end of period one, despite outshooting the Spits 10-8. Faceoffs ended at 10-9 to Windsor's advantage as well. Flint ended scoreless on three power-play chances on special teams while holding the Spitfires scoreless on their lone opportunity.
Another 5-on-3 man-advantage for the Firebirds was all it took to get things going in period two. Once they were set up in the zone, Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) manned the left point. He banked a pass to Gavin Hayes in the left corner. Hayes tried to feed a saucer pass through the goal crease to Zacharie Giroux on the far side, but a diving defender's stick deflected the puck up high over Onuska's right shoulder, resulting in Hayes' fifth of playoffs and third playoff power-play tally. The time of the goal was 1:31, with Othmann and Tyler Deline.
After a little rough stuff around the Flint net, two Spitfires players ended up in the penalty box and only one player from the Firebirds. 20 seconds into the man-advantage, Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) found Othmann open at the right point. Flint's Captain made a short pass from the top of the right circle to Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) centered between the circles. Kressler settled the puck and fired a wrist shot low to the blocker side that tickled the twine for his sixth of the playoffs at 8:43.
The Firebirds scored two goals on four power plays while holding the Spitfires off the scoreboard on one opportunity. Shots again favored the visitors 16-12, and Windsor outdrew Flint 15-10 in the second period.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from May 27, 2022
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