OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Finish off the Rangers for a Thrilling 6-4 Road Win

Published on November 5, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Kitchener, ON. - It was Remembrance Day inside the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium tonight as the Flint Firebirds headed north of the border, for the first time in 604 days, to take on the Kitchener Rangers. Luke Cavallin got the start in net for the Firebirds and it was Pavel Cajan starting his third-straight game for Kitchener.

It took almost five minutes of action before either team registered a shot on goal, and then the ice titled in favor of the Firebirds. Tag Bertuzzi and Riley Piercey, his first game back in five, put on a clinic in the offensive end, each finding themselves with grade-A chances in the high slot that were ultimately turned aside by Cajan.

The Rangers struck first, 6:53 into the 1st period, as Francesco Pinelli (LA Kings) went coast-to-coast in the Firebirds end before throwing one to the front of the net where it hit off Antonino Pugliese and into the back of the net for his first career OHL goal in just his second career game. Pinelli and Jacob LeBlanc picked up the helpers.

The Firebirds continued the offensive pressure, before a bad break the other way led to an Amadeus Lombardi hooking penalty. After a great first-minute kill that saw the 'Birds land more chances than Kitchener, a loose puck was poked free to Francesco Pinelli in the far-side circle who ripped one bar-down over the glove of Cavallin to make it 2-0. Declan McDonnell and Justin Nolet were credited with the assists with 3:15 remaining in the frame. The 1st Period ended with the teams tied at nine in shots and the Firebirds leading 13-8 from the face-off dot.

The Rangers came out hot in the 2nd Period, but after a few chances were denied by Luke Cavallin and the Firebirds rearguards, it remained a 2-goal deficit for Flint. The Firebirds received three straight power-plays in the middle stages of the 2nd Period but were unsuccessful at finding twine despite registering six shots on goal. The Rangers then received back-to-back man advantages and Flint's PKer's held them shotless.

Finally, after a steal in the defensive end, Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) sprung Brennan Othmann (NY Rangers) for a breakaway that saw Othmann rip a wrister low to the glove past Cajan to cut the Rangers lead in half at the 5:43 mark of the 2nd Period.

The Firebirds got on a roll from there. Just three minutes later, Riley Piercey provided a great forecheck deep in the offensive zone. He then turned, drew in the Rangers defense, and sent a pass to Tristan Bertucci in the high slot who buried one high passed Cajan. It was Bertucci's 1st career OHL goal assisted by Piercey and Luca D'Amato (his third point in two games) with 2:41 left in the 2nd tying the game at 2.

Less than a minute later, Tyler Deline stole one in the defensive end and again sprung Brennan Othmann for a breakaway. This time, the NHL 1st round pick ripped one low to the blocker of Cajan for his 2nd of the game giving the Firebirds their first lead of the game with 1:46 remaining in the 2nd. They outshot the Rangers 13-5 in the middle frame and carried all of the momentum to the locker room after two.

It didn't last long, as 24 seconds into the period Pinelli and Declan McDonnell set up a beautiful give-and-go to give Pinelli a wide-open back door goal to tie things up at 4. A few minutes later, a 2-on-1 between Cameron Mercer and Adam Zidlicky was finished off past a sprawling Luke Cavallin by Zidlicky giving Kitchener a 4-3 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game.

The Firebirds didn't quit. On the powerplay, Ethan Hay sent a puck in that was deflected by Amadeus Lombardi leading to a sprawling Cajan save. Hay crashed the net to pick up the rebound and finish behind Cajan, his first career OHL goal, tying things up at 4 with 9:13 remaining in the game. The play was back-and-forth down the stretch in a very entertaining game. Finally, with 2:30 remaining, Tristan Bertucci sent a long cross-ice pass up ice for Riley Piercey waiting at the Kitchener blue line. He patiently entered the zone before hitting a cutting Coulson Pitre who one-timed one five-hole past Cajan giving the Firebirds a 5-4 lead. Brennan Othmann picked up the hat trick just 1:19 later on an empty-net goal, assisted by Pitre (his 3rd point of the game) and the Firebirds finished things off 6-4.

The Firebirds outshot the Rangers 31-13 in the final two periods of the game, 40-23 for the game. Their PP went 1/4, with the Rangers going 1/5. Face-offs finished 31-29 in favor of the 'Birds.

Next Up: The Firebirds return home tomorrow night, Saturday, November 6, to take on the 9-0 London Knights at 7:00 PM. It is Military Appreciation Night so all veterans and active duty receive a complimentary ticket to the game.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2021


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