Firebirds Force OT But Fall in London, 5-4
OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Force OT But Fall in London, 5-4

Published on October 3, 2025 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint Firebirds' Mason Vaccari
Flint Firebirds' Mason Vaccari
(Flint Firebirds)

LONDON, Ont. - Nathan Aspinall scored twice, Matthew Wang had a goal and an assist and the Firebirds tied the game late to force overtime but eventually fell to the London Knights in the extra frame, 5-4, on Friday night at Canada Life Place.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

With the game tied at three late in the third period, the Knights broke out of the defensive zone with Noah Read speeding up the right side. Read sent a saucer pass to Jared Wooley on the back side who steered the puck past Mason Vaccari's blocker to give London a one-goal lead.

The Firebirds answered though and tied the game a minute and a half later after Matthew Wang carried the puck into the attacking zone. Wang skated to the left circle, turned and darted a shot on net that Aleksei Medvedev stopped. The rebound bounced off a London defenseman though and into the net, tying the score and forcing overtime.

In OT, London pressured in the attacking zone and had several chances that Vaccari was able to keep at bay. Eventually though, Sam O'Reilly got loose in the high slot and slung a shot past Vaccari for the game-winning goal.

Flint opened the scoring late in the first period after Alex Kostov intercepted a London pass in the neutral zone. He brought it in and hit the cutting Jimmy Lombardi who muscled it to Aspinall in front of the net. Aspinall pulled the puck to his backhand and slid it into the net to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead.

Later, in the final two minutes of the frame with Flint shorthanded, Wang gathered the puck and steamed through center ice into the attacking zone. He drew the defense and found a trailing Charlie Murata. Murata chipped the puck past Medvedev for his first OHL goal and Flint's lead grew to two.

The Knights then ramped things up with three goals in the second period. First, O'Reilly was fed cutting to the net and flipped a wrister past Vaccari. Then, Andoni Fimis took a wrist shot from the point that Cohen Bidgood deflected in front of the net and sent skipping through Vaccari's pads. Finally, with London on a power play, Evan Van Gorp hit a Linus Funck at the top of the left circle. He strode and sent a wrist shot high past Vaccari's glove and the Knights took a 3-2 lead.

Flint responded though and evened the score late in the second. Lombardi sprinted down the right wing and sent a saucer pass to Aspinall who was trailing the play on the back side. Aspinall stuffed a shot through Medvedev and the game was tied at three.

London improved to 1-2-2-0 with the win while Flint moved to 1-2-1-0 in the overtime loss.

POSTGAME NOTES:

Charlie Murata netted his first OHL goal and now has a goal and three assists in four games...Matthew Wang finished with a goal and an assist for his third multi-point game of the season...Nathan Aspinall scored twice in his first game of the season.

UP NEXT:

Flint will return home to take on the Sarnia Sting on Saturday night. Everybody in attendance will receive a free magnet schedule courtesy of Jersey Mike's Subs. Puck drop at the Dort Financial Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Flint Firebirds' Mason Vaccari
Flint Firebirds' Mason Vaccari
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2025


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