Firebirds Drop Game Two to Spits, Come Back Home with the Series Tied 1-1
Published on May 23, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
Windsor, Ont. - The Firebirds had an off night, and the Windsor Spitfires capitalized by scoring seven on Monday. Matthew Maggio was the star of the show, recording a hat trick and being named the game's 'First Star.' Will Cuylle (New York Rangers) scored twice and Wyatt Johnston (Dallas Stars) earned three assists to help lead Windsor's charge. For Flint, Amadeus Lombardi and Riley Piercey lit the lamp. Luke Cavallin made 33 saves on 38 shots before an equipment issue forced him out of the game. Nathaniel Day made five saves on seven shots faced over the final 7:18 of regulation. Across the ice Mathias Onuska earned his ninth postseason victory, turning aside 37 of 39 Flint shots.
The first period was a story of penalties, and the first two chances went to the Spitfires. Cavallin made a pair of key saves in each to maintain the scoreless tie. Shots were 10-2 to Windsor's advantage 10 minutes in. With around five minutes remaining in the first, a full five-on-five scrum erupted in the Flint zone. After the penalties washed out, the Birds received a five-minute power play. It would be the Spits, however, that drew first blood on a shorthanded breakaway. Wyatt Johnston (Dallas Stars) spotted Will Cuylle (New York Rangers) charging up-ice and made the breakout pass to spring him all alone on Cavallin. Windsor's Captain lifted a wrist shot mid-height that found twine under the glove for his seventh of the playoffs at 16:25.
The Spitfires outshot Flint 16-7 and won 12 of 18 faceoffs. With the man advantage, the Birds were scoreless on one five-minute opportunity while Windsor went 0-for-3.
The clubs would combine for four goals in the middle frame. Just beyond four minutes in, and while on a power play, Louka Henault launched a heavy slapshot on goal from high between the circles. Cuylle was screening in the slot, but Cavallin still kicked the shot aside into the right-wing circle. Matthew Maggio was all alone in the circle to quickly redirect the puck behind Cavallin for goal number two of the postseason at 4:07.
With under three minutes to play in period two, Maggio carried into the offensive zone one-on-one and hit the brakes above the circles. He stickhandled across the top of the left circle before sniping the top corner for his second of the night, assisted by Nicholas DeAngelis at 17:18.
In the final minute, Amadeus Lombardi carried up the left side of the slot and faked a shot, earning a commitment from the diving defender and Onuska, sliding to his right in the crease. Lombardi held onto the puck, skated behind the Windsor net, and completed the wraparound inside the left post. Gavin Hayes and Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) picked up the helpers on Lombardi's sixth of the playoffs at 19:18.
Cuylle reclaimed the three-goal lead with only 12 seconds left on the second-period clock. He carried into the offensive zone and broke wide to the right-wing boards. After making a move around his defender, he carried across the bottom of the right circle and faked a short-side shot before slipping the puck past Cavallin far-side for his second of the night, assisted by Andrew Perrott.
Flint outshot the Spitfires 22-16 in the second period and outdrew them 14-11. The Birds went 0-for-2 with the man-advantage while Windsor scored once on two chances.
Nearly nine minutes of the third period were played without a goal until Johnston shot wide from the right circle and the puck caromed around the boards back up to the left point. Jacob Maillet used a quick snapshot to one-time the puck off the boards and back into traffic. The puck found its way into the back of the net to give the Spitfires the 5-1 edge with 11:11 remaining in the game. Johnston and Nathan Ribeau assisted on Maillet's second of the playoffs.
At the 11:20 mark, Cavallin was forced to exit the ice due to an equipment issue. Nathaniel Day took over goaltending duties for the balance of the contest. Less than two minutes later, Maillet slipped a pass between two defenders from the left offensive corner. He hit Oliver Peer in stride at the left faceoff dot, and his one-timer beat Day for his second of the postseason logged at 13:20.
Near the 18-minute mark, Maggio completed his hat trick. He sent a wrist shot on goal from just inside the blue line, and the screen in front of Day was enough for goal number seven for the home team. His fourth of the playoffs and third of the night was recorded at 17:54, unassisted.
Luca D'Amato's slapshot less than 30 seconds later got kicked aside by Onuska. Riley Piercey was positioned at the inner edge of the left circle to one-time the deflection just inside the near post for his second of the postseason at 18:23.
Final shots ended to Windsor's advantage 45-39. They also held the edge in faceoffs 35-29. On the power play, the Birds finished scoreless with four chances while the Spits scored once on five opportunities.
Next Up: Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25 at the Dort Financial Center in Flint. Puck drop for Game 3 is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) and tickets are on sale now through ETIX HERE, in person at the Dort Financial Center Box Office, or by calling 1-800-514-3849. All fans are encouraged to wear orange to help "Orange Out" the Dort Financial Center.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2022
- Firebirds Drop Game Two to Spits, Come Back Home with the Series Tied 1-1 - Flint Firebirds
- Renwick's Windsor Roots Run Deep - Windsor Spitfires
- Firebirds Seek 2-0 Lead in Western Conference Finals Monday in Windsor - Flint Firebirds
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