OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Fall 6-3 to Greyhounds in Chippy Friday Night Tilt

Published on April 15, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - In a chippy, playoff-style tilt that featured 25 penalties, two disallowed goals, and several scrums after the whistles, the visiting Greyhounds skated away with a decisive 6-3 road win. Connor Toms led the offense for Sault Ste. Marie with a two-goal performance. Rory Kerins (Calgary Flames) had a goal and two assists, and Tye Kartye (Seattle Kraken), Bryce McConnell-Barker, and Cole MacKay each had a goal and an assist. For Flint, Coulson Pitre and Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) led the attack with two-point nights. Pitre scored and logged one helper, and Kressler assisted on two of the Firebirds' three tallies. Luke Cavallin made 36 saves in a busy night in goal, but it was Tucker Tynan across the ice with the victory after a 34-save performance.

The Hounds jumped out to the early two-goal lead, netting both first-period markers. First, during 4-on-4 play, rookie Bryce McConnell-Barker redirected a loose puck to defenseman Connor Toms in the left offensive circle. Toms skated to the inner edge of the circle before backhanding the puck just inside the far post for his first goal of the season at 9:21. Then, while on the power play, Robert Calisti passed across the top of the circles from right to left, where McConnell-Barker received the pass and wristed it into traffic in the slot. The puck made its way past everyone, including Cavallin. McConnell-Barker's 23rd of the campaign was logged at 16:58, assisted by Calisti and Kirill Kudryavtsev.

Flint outdrew the Hounds 16-13, but the Soo outshot the Birds 18-13 and led 2-0 after one period of play. With the man-advantage, the Firebirds were scoreless in three tries and the Greyhounds' first-place power-play unit scored once on two opportunities.

Less than five minutes into the middle frame, the Greyhounds struck again. Rory Kerins carried into his offensive zone before dishing to his right. Cole MacKay carried to the center of the right circle before snapping a shot just inside the far post for his 28th of the year, assisted by Kerins and Ryan O'Rourke (Minnesota Wild) at 4:37.

The lead extended to four at 15:17 when Toms potted his second of the night. Jack Thompson (Tampa Bay Lightning) leaned into a slapshot from just inside the blue line, but Cavallin dropped and made the save. As he paddled the rebound to his right, Toms was in place to deflect it past Cavallin's skate and in. MacKay was credited with the second helper.

The Firebirds finally solved Tynan 20 seconds later. Flint's all-time rookie scoring leader Coulson Pitre snagged a loose puck in his offensive zone and wasted no time lifting it high, blocker-side for his 23rd of the season, unassisted at 15:37.

The Greyhounds carried the 4-1 lead into the second intermission. Shots were even at 10 per side during the middle stanza. The Birds also outdrew the Soo again, this time 13-10. Flint's top-ranked penalty killers kept the Greyhounds off the board on their lone chance with the man-advantage.

Flint lit the lamp first in the third period. Braeden Kressler skated in on a one-on-one with his defender draped all over him. His first deke worked, but the second attempt was sticked aside. Zacharie Giroux was the third man in on the play, and he faked a quick shot and waited for Tynan to commit before slipping a backhander in at ice level to the glove side. Giroux's goal was his 14th of the season, assisted by Kressler and James Mayotte at 5:44.

Sault Ste. Marie answered with a quick goal of their own, again on the power play. Kerins carried up the left side on a two-on-one break, with Tye Kartye to his right. Kerins made a late pass to Kartye in the slot, and his delayed backhander beat Cavallin to push the lead to 5-2 at 5:55. Thompson picked up the second assist on the play.

The Firebirds had a brief 5-on-3 opportunity and celebrated two goals that were both disallowed in less than a minute to the dismay of the Flint fans. It was the Hounds that would strike again, and once again from a two-on-one rush featuring Kerins and Kartye. This time Kartye carried the puck into the zone and made the late pass to Kerins on his right. The one-timer found twine for Kerins' 43rd of the year at 14:19.

The Firebirds struck once more on the power play at 17:21. A shot by Kressler was kicked aside by Tynan directly to the ready-and-waiting Tag Bertuzzi for the short redirection. Bertuzzi's 21st was assisted by Kressler and Pitre.

Trailing by three, Flint called Cavallin to the bench with over a minute remaining in the game. Despite heavy pressure around the Sault Ste. Marie net, the clock expired with the scoreboard still showing 6-3. Final shots were 42-37 to the Hounds' advantage. Flint won more of the faceoffs by a 37-32 surplus. In total on special teams, the Firebirds scored once on eight power-play opportunities while the Greyhounds scored twice on four chances.

Next Up: The Firebirds' season finale on Saturday, April 16 is 'Fan Appreciation Night,' which will include giveaways, contests, prize packs, playoff ticket promotions and MORE. Tickets are available online from ETIX.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2022


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