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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Down Spitfires in OT, 3-2, for Fifth Straight Win

February 17, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - Alex Kostov and Nolan Dann each extended point streaks with goals and Jimmy Lombardi buried the game-winning goal in overtime as the Flint Firebirds beat the Windsor Spitfires in OT, 3-2, on Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center. Flint extended its season-long winning streak to five games in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 4,049 fans and Jacob Brown made 29 saves on 31 shots in the win.

With the game tied at one and less than four minutes to play in the third period, Dann put the Firebirds on top. Simon Slavicek stripped Liam Greentree of the puck and left a drop pass for Dann in the neutral zone. Dann fired a rocket of a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that beat Joey Costanzo on the blocker side and put Flint on top, 2-1.

That lead lasted less than a minute though as Noah Morneau sprung AJ Spellacy who walked in on Brown alone from the blue line. Spellacy deked from his forehand to his backhand and lifted a late backhand past Brown's blocker for the equalizer. The clubs remained tied when time expired on regulation, pushing the game to overtime.

Halfway into the five-minute overtime period, Slavicek carried into the offensive zone and made a drop pass to Lombardi above the right-wing circle. Lombardi leaned into a heavy wrister that found space above the right pad and below the blocker of Costanzo for the game-winning goal to give the Firebirds a 3-2 victory.

Lombardi scored his fourth goal of the season and his first career overtime game-winner one day after his 17th birthday, extending Flint's winning streak to a season-long five games.

Flint took the lead in the first period when Blake Smith led Kostov with a breakout pass on the left side of the neutral zone. Kostov rocketed into the offensive zone with a defender in tow, protected the puck and flicked a wrist shot past Costanzo to put the Firebirds on top.

Windsor tied the game in the middle frame with an unusual method of scoring. Carson Woodall attempted a rising wrist shot from the left faceoff dot as two players battled in front of the net. The puck sailed wide of Brown's glove, deflected off Jack Greenwell's upper body and into the back of the net, knotting the score at one.

Kostov's goal extended his point streak to four games, Tristan Bertucci recorded an assist to legthen his point streak to four games and Dann's goal pushed his point streak to 10 and made it points in 22 of his last 23 contests. Slavicek finished with two assists and now has points in three straight.

The Firebirds improved to 24-25-3-1 with the win and the Spits fell to 16-29-4-3. Flint will visit its in-state rivals the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday night. Puck drop at the Dow Event Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

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