Firebirds Drop Spirit, 4-2
October 29, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
FLINT, Mich. - Gavin Hayes scored twice, Zacharie Giroux and Braeden Kressler each had a goal and an assist and the Flint Firebirds rode a three-goal first-period outburst to a 4-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday afternoon at the Dort Financial Center. The Firebirds earned their first home win of the season and evened the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup at one game apiece.
Nolan Dann put the Birds on the board first with a wicked wrist shot. He carried the puck into the attacked zone, dragged the puck around a defender and snapped it home from the left circle shy of the midway point of the opening frame.
Flint added to that lead when Tristan Bertucci forced a turnover and sprinted down the right wing with speed. He hit Kressler on the back post for a one-timer that shot past Nolan Lalonde low to the glove side, tying the game at two.
With under four minutes remaining in the first, Marko Stojkov flipped a shot on net from atop the left circle. Kressler was in position to deflect the shot across the goal crease where Gavin Hayes was ready and waiting. Hayes' one-timer put Flint on top of their rivals 3-0.
The Spirit cut into the deficit with ten seconds to play in the period, however. Roberto Mancini fired a wrist shot from the blue line that Michael Misa deflected home to make the score 3-1.
The clubs traded goals in the middle frame, beginning with Hayes netting his second of the afternoon with a low snapper off a 3-on-1 break for Flint. Then Misa scored his second of the day on a Saginaw power play, wristing the puck glove-side from the high slot.
Still trailing by two late in the third, the Spirit called Lalonde to the bench with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game and during 4-on-4 play. Around the two-minute mark, Saginaw's penalty expired giving them the 6-on-4 skater advantage. Giroux was the beneficiary, however, finding the empty net from his defensive end. The Spirit snuck one more past Day off the stick of Lincoln Moore with 26 seconds remaining, cementing the 5-3 final score.
The Firebirds improved to 5-6-0-1 with their win while the Spirit dropped to 4-6-0-1. The teams swapped positions in the west division standings as Flint jumped into third place and Saginaw fell to fourth. The Firebirds will now hit the road on Wednesday for Owen Sound and a tilt with the Attack before returning home for a pair of weekend home games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at J.D. McArthur Arena.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2023
- Firebirds Drop Spirit, 4-2 - Flint Firebirds
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- Firebirds Host Rival Saginaw on Sunday Afternoon - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Close Three-Game Weekend in Flint - Saginaw Spirit
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