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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Fight Back, Force OT, But Fall in Shootout to Erie, 4-3

November 3, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds erased a two-goal deficit and came from behind to force overtime but eventually fell to the Erie Otters in a shootout, 4-3, on Friday night at the Dort Financial Center. Gavin Hayes scored and Zacharie Giroux had an assist, extending both players' point steraks to 10 games. Braeden Kressler recorded a goal and an assist in the shootout loss, which extended Flint's point streak to five games.

With the Firebirds trailing 3-1 with less than 10 minutes to play in the third, Kressler barreled into the attacking zone and deked around multiple defenders. He snapped a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that beat Ben Gaudreau high on the blocker side. Kressler's sixth of the season cut the lead to 3-2.

Less than two minutes later Nathan Aspinall backhanded a pass from the high slot to Matthew Wang streaking up the right-wing side. With a defender draped on his back, Wang fired a backhander toward the net. Simon Slavicek had his stick on the ice at the top of the crease and deflected the puck high over Gaudreau's right shoulder to tie the game and eventually force overtime.

Following a scoreless overtime, the game progressed to a shootout. Erie's Bruce McDonald went first, put a move on Day and tucked a shot around his outstretched pad. Both team's shooters did not cash in on their next two chances and in the final round, Giroux was Flint's last chance. He attacked the net with speed but Gaudreau poked the puck off his stick, ending the game.

Erie scored the lone goal of the opening period while on the game's first power play. Pano Fimis lasered a cross-ice pass from the left point to Ondrej Molnar in the right circle for a one-timer.

The Firebirds answered in the second when Giroux hit Hayes for a one-timer that he fired low to the blocker side through traffic. Kressler picked up the second assist, which pushed his point streak to five games and gave him his 100th career OHL point.

Erie then regained the lead four minutes later when Fimis deflected a shot from Sam Alfano in the slot for his sixth of the season. It extended its lead to 3-1 after McDonald skated to the slot and buried a wrist shot on the glove side of Day.

Kressler finished with a goal and an assist, Day made 21 saves on 24 shots and Slavicek netted his third goal in the past two games. The Firebirds extended their point streak to five games with the shootout loss, which pushed their record to 6-6-1-1. Erie improved to 6-7-2-0.

The Firebirds will return to action on Saturday night at home against the Mississauga Steelheads. It's Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by Dort Financial Credit Union, and the Firebirds will be wearing specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off following the game. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2023


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