OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Drop Hard-Fought Game 4 in OT to Spirit 2-1

Published on April 5, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds forced overtime again in Game 4 of the First Round of the OHL Playoffs against their rivals from Saginaw. Amadeus Lombardi scored the lone goal of regulation for the Birds, and Roberto Mancini netted the lone marker for the Spirit before overtime. In the extra frame, Mitchell Smith scored the winning tally to give the visitors their third win of the series. For the fourth consecutive game in the series, Nathan Day got the start between the pipes for the Firebirds and Saginaw again went with the New York Islanders prospect Tristan Lennox. Day was named the game's 'Third Star' after posting 34 saves on 36 shots in arguably one of the best games of his young career. Lennox was named 'First Star' for stopping all but one of Flint's 29 shots en route to his fifth career playoff win.

The first period was played to a scoreless tie, with Saginaw generating nine shots on Day and Flint shooting eight times on Lennox. The Firebirds won 12 of the 18 first-period faceoffs. The Spirit were scoreless on two power-play chances while the Birds came up empty on one.

Just like the first three games of the opening round, the Firebirds were first to strike paydirt. This time, Amadeus Lombardi collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated to the high slot during five-on-five play. He hit the brakes and faked a pass to Gavin Hayes at the bottom of the left circle before turning and sniping the top corner, glove side. His second of the playoffs was unassisted, logged at 6:53 of the middle frame.

Saginaw netted the equalizer at even strength at 13:42. Roberto Mancini wristed the puck low to the glove side through a screen from the right point. It went just above Day's left pad and in for Mancini's first of the playoffs, assisted by Theo Hill and Zayne Parekh.

The teams carried the 1-1 tie into the second intermission. Saginaw again had the slight edge in shots 14-12, and Flint again won more draws by a margin of 10-8. The Birds had two chances with the power play and the Spirit had one, but neither team scored on special teams.

Much of the third period looked like Flint was on a power play when the teams were both skating five per side. Perimeter passing and set plays appeared to be working to their advantage, but the tilt remained tied at one at the end of regulation. Saginaw's shots through 60 minutes were 32 and the Birds' were at 29. Total faceoffs in regulation were 32-19 to Flint's advantage. Both clubs went 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Once again, overtime was needed to decide the winner.

A Flint skater was ejected 4:18 into the extra frame, in addition to a five-minute major assessed to him as well. The Spirit took a two-minute minor shortly thereafter, evening the manpower at four skaters per side. Then Saginaw native Mitchell Smith put the game on his stick and carried up the right-wing wall and stopped briefly along the half boards to lose his defender. Smith made a bee-line toward the goal crease a pace ahead of the nearest defender. From the left side of Day, he lifted a quick snapper over the netminder's pad that somehow made its way into the back of the net, giving Saginaw the 2-1 overtime victory and a 3-1 lead in the First Round. The Spirit outshot the Firebirds 4-0 in the overtime frame.

Next Up: Game 5 will see this first-round battle return to the Dow Event Center in Saginaw on Friday. Flint fans looking to make the short drive north can purchase tickets online. If necessary, Game 6 will be played Saturday evening in Flint. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET) and tickets are ON SALE NOW at ETIX.COM.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2023


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