OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Falter at Home vs Erie, 5-0

March 20, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds fell behind just 75 seconds into the first period and never found the score sheet as they were shut out by the Erie Otters, 5-0, on Wednesday night at the Dort Financial Center. Erie goaltender stopped all 26 Flint shots and Dylan Edwards had two goals to pace Erie offensively.

Erie got on the board early with a fortuitous bounce in front of Nathan Day. Kaleb Smith carried the puck to the right circle and sent a pass intended for an Erie forward at the back door. Instead, the puck deflected off a the stick of a Flint defenseman and past Day to give the Otters a 1-0 lead.

Erie's advantage doubled six minutes into the middle frame. Edwards skated through the left corner with possession and glided behind Day's net. As he curled into the right circle, he spun and wristed the puck low to the far side, beating Day above the pad but below the blocker, extending the lead to 2-0.

The Otters would strike again after Ondrej Molnar gained the offensive zone along the left wall more than seven minutes later. He hit the brakes shy of the dot and rifled a pass to the center of the opposite circle. Martin Misiak was loose at the right dot and he cranked a one-timer past Day and Erie led, 3-0.

Erie found twine a fourth time 32 seconds into the third period. Pano Fimis was forced wide of the slot on an initial attempt to get to Day, but he dropped the puck back to Sam Alfano who was trailing between the circles. Alfano quickly one-timed the pass low to the blocker side and struck paydirt and the Erie lead was 4-0..

Just past the 13-minute mark of the final frame, Edwards skated to the inner part of the right circle and wristed the puck over Day's blocker on the far side for his second of the night to make it 5-0.

Flint dropped to 30-31-4-1 in the loss while Erie improved to 31-28-5-2. The Firebirds were shut out for only the second time this season and had both their four-game point streak and four-game home winning streak snapped in the process.

The Firebirds will now hit the road on Friday night to take on the Soo Greyhounds. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. at the GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie. Flint will then return home to conclude its regular season with Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday night at home against the Sarnia Sting with a 7 p.m. scheduled puck drop.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

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