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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Drop Greyhounds in Shootout, 4-3, Clinch Playoff Spot

March 13, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich - Tristan Bertucci, Nathan Aspinall and Matthew Wang each scored, Connor Clattenburg buried the game-winner in the shootout and the Flint Firebirds beat the Soo Greyhounds, 4-3, on Wednesday night at the Dort Financial Center. Flint's win combined with a loss by the Sarnia Sting clinched a playoff spot for the Firebirds.

With the game tied at three following both regulation and a scoreless overtime period, it progressed to a shootout to decide the winner. Nathan Day made saves on both Bryce McConnell-Barker and former Firebird Gavin Hayes in the first two rounds. Flint sent Nolan Dann and Oliver Peer, both of whom could not beat Landon Miller. Jacob Frasca had the third attempt for the Hounds and was met by Day's left pad to keep the Greyhounds scoreless. Finally, the former Greyhound Clattenburg was summoned to shoot in the third round for Flint. He skated wide on the right side, eased toward the net and flicked a wrist shot to the top corner on the glove side of Miller to win the game.

The Firebirds jumped to an early 1-0 lead just beyond the four-minute mark of the opening period. Oliver Peer took the puck at center ice and sent a crafty backhand pass to Aspinall who was speeding into the attacking zone. He carried the puck along the boards until he was behind the Soo net, used his long reach and wrapped the puck around the net and past Charlie Schenkel's left pad to put Flint on top.

The Hounds answered eight minutes later when Hayes slipped a pass from the bottom of the right-wing circle to Jack Beck at the top. Beck stickhandled to the near hash marks and sniped a shot through narrow opening between Nathan Day's right pad and blocker to tie the game at one.

A penalty on the Greyhounds for too many men on the ice gave Flint a power play and eventually its second marker of the night. Coulson Pitre won an offensive draw back to Bertucci at the near point. The Dallas Stars prospect walked the line toward center ice and wristed a shot through a screen that beat Schenkel high on the blocker side and gave the Firebirds a 2-1 lead.

Early in the second period, the Birds connected on another wraparound. This time it was former Greyhound Alex Kostov who sprung Wang sprinting down the left wing. Wang carried through the corner and behind the cage before wrapping the puck under Schenkel's left pad and in to make the score 3-1.

Flint's third goal came on just its seventh shot of the game and Schenkel was lifted in favor of Miller for the remainder of the game.

Beck connected for his second of the night on a Soo power play inside the final four minutes of period two. His wrister from above the left hash marks deflected off a player's equipment in the slot and redirected over Day's right pad to pull the visitors within one.

The Greyhounds knotted the score at three in the third period. Brady Martin picked up a rebound behind Day's net and fed Julian Fantino in the slot from Day's right. Fantino took the pass and quickly chipped a shot over Day's shoulder to tie the game with 8:11 remaining in regulation.

Flint improved to 29-30-3-1 and clinched a playoff spot with the win while Soo moved to 42-16-3-2 in the shootout loss. The Firebirds pulled themselves into a tie for seventh in the Western Conference, even with the Guelph Storm. Flint now trails the Erie Otters in sixth by one point and is two points behind the fifth-place Owen Sound Attack.

The Firebirds will return to action on Friday night on the road in Sarnia against the Sting before returning home on Saturday to host the Windsor Spitfires. Friday's puck drop in Sarnia is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2024


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