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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Earn 17th Victory in Last 18 Games Friday

February 28, 2020 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds skated to their 17th victory in their last 18 games with a 6 - 4 home-ice triumph over the visiting Hamilton Bulldogs Friday night. With the victory, the Firebirds remained in first place in the West Division and second place in the ten-team Western Conference.

Anthony Popovich made 42 saves on 46 shots to win his franchise-best 28th game between the pipes. Jake Durham scored twice and was named the game's 'First Star.' First-year forward Brennan Othmann continued to raise the bar on most goals scored by a Flint rookie, logging goals 16 and 17 for the season while earning 'Second Star' honors. Tyler Tucker scored once, recorded an assist and took part in a heavyweight tilt at center ice en-route to a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" and becoming the game's 'First Star.' Evgeniy Oksentyuk had a two-point game, scoring once and adding two helpers.

The Bulldogs went up 2 - 0 early in the game. While on the power play, Tag Bertuzzi carried into the left-wing offensive circle and made a behind-the-back pass to Arthur Kaliyev (Los Angeles Kings) between the circles. Hamilton's top scorer sniped the puck far-side, mid-height just out of Popovich's reach for his 43rd of the season at 8:11.

The Dogs struck again with an even-strength marker at 12:08. Isaac Nurse took a shot from high between the circles that went wide to the left of the Flint net. Ryan Humphrey gathered the rebound off the kick-plate and scored on a wide-angel shot from below the left-wing circle. It was Humphrey's third of the season, assisted by Nurse and Nathan Staios.

The Birds responded with two unanswered. First, Cody Morgan and Evgeniy Oksentyuk created a two-on-one break toward netminder Marco Costantini. Morgan carried with patience until he was low in the right circle before sending a laser of a pass to Oksentyuk for the back-door one-timer. Oksentyuk's 32nd of the season was logged at 13:22, with Morgan picking up the lone assist.

Inside the last minute of the opening frame, the Firebirds tied the game while on the man-advantage. Cody Morgan crossed the blue line along the left wall and hit the brakes to shake a defender. He made the point-to-point pass to Owen Lalonde on the far side of the ice, and Lalonde immediately sent the puck through the slot to Jake Durham on Costantini's right. Durham's one-timer went just inside the near post for his 21st of the campaign at 19:21.

The Bulldogs outshot Flint 15 - 14 in the first 20 minutes of play, and controlled the faceoffs with a 14 - 6 advantage. Both clubs went one-for-one on the power play.

Flint scored their third unanswered goal just 3:03 into the middle frame. Dennis Busby (Arizona Coyotes) slapped a heavy shot from the right point that was turned aside by Costantini. Brennan Othmann found the rebound through traffic and redirected under the netminder for his 16th of the season. Busby and Riley Piercey combined for the assists on the play.

The intensity level picked up after a spirited bout at center ice, and the Birds capitalized by scoring their fourth-straight moments later. While on the power play, Riley McCourt dished the puck from the left point to Oksentyuk at the top of the right circle. The Belarusian forward passed back to McCourt, now in the left circle. McCourt shot into traffic and Othmann redirected the puck for his second of the night and 17th of the season.

The teams traded goals in the final minute of period two. Kade Landry's slapper from the left point found netting through a screen in front of Popovich for his fourth of the season at 19:33, assisted by Kaliyev and Bertuzzi. Then, Braeden Kressler won an offensive-zone faceoff back to the current OHL 'Player of the Week,' Tyler Tucker (St. Louis Blues). Tucker immediately fired a wrister on goal through traffic that struck just inside the post for his 17th of the season at 19:55.

Flint was up 5 - 3 after 40 minutes, despite trailing on the shot clock 31 - 28. Faceoffs continued to go Hamilton's way, favoring the visitors 28 - 17. The Birds were two-for-three with the man-advantage after two periods, and the Dogs were one-for-two. Zachary Roy replaced Costantini between the pipes for the third period.

Durham potted his second of the contest off a perfect pass from Oksentyuk on another two-on-one at 3:20. Tyler Tucker was credited with the second assist on the play, thus completing what's known as the 'Gordie Howe hat-trick.' This trio of accomplishments in a game is named after the Detroit Red Wings' legend who was nicknamed 'Mr. Hockey' for being the most well-rounded player in NHL history. In order to earn a 'Gordie,' a player needs one goal, one assist, and one fight in the same game.

Hamilton called Roy to the bench with just north of four minutes remaining in regulation. With the extra attacker in place, the Dogs scored their fourth goal. Jan Mysak was credited with his 14th marker in just his 19th game, assisted by Kaliyev and Bertuzzi. Roy spent the majority of the remaining time on the bench, but neither team was able to light the lamp.

Final shots-on-goal were 45 - 40 in favor of the Bulldogs. Faceoffs ended 41 - 28, also to the visors' advantage. The Dogs scored once on three power-play chances, while Flint converted on two of four.

Next Home Game:

Flint returns to home ice Saturday night as they host the Kingston Frontenacs for the Firebirds' Billet / Host Family Appreciation Night. The Firebirds' host families will be recognized and honored for their commitment to the organization with a pre-game ceremony and will be provided a beautiful display of bouquets. Bouquet arrangements are courtesy of Bentley Florist and the Bovan Floral Group in Burton. The players come to Flint from all over the world, near and far, from Detroit, Mich., Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario and all the way from the nation of Belarus. Host families provide the Firebirds with amazing support and accommodations all season long.

Additionally, the top two draft picks from the 2019 OHL Priority Selection go toe-to-toe against each other for the first time on the Firebirds' home-ice Saturday. Brennan Othmann (first-round, 2nd overall) and Shane Wright (first-round, 1st overall) were teammates in youth hockey a year ago with the Don Mills Flyers minor midget AAA hockey team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

Single game tickets for all Firebirds games are $12 Bronze, $16 Silver, $20 Gold and $26 VIP seating (Seating Chart). All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (810) 744-0580, in-person at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com here.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2020


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