Firebirds Look to Bounce Back on Friday Night in Guelph
November 10, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
GUELPH, Ont. - After snapping their six-game point streak Wednesday in Saginaw, the Flint Firebirds aim to bounce back with a Friday night showdown with the Storm on the road. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre.
STREAKING: The Firebirds saw their point streak abruptly come to an end Wednesday at the Dow Event Center when the Spirit claimed a decisive 6-2 victory. Despite the loss, Flint has picked up points in eight of its last ten contests, earning 14 of a possible 20 during that stretch. Braeden Kressler scored both tallies for the Firebirds on Wednesday, keeping his personal point streak alive. He now has multiple points in seven consecutive games. Gavin Hayes logged two assists versus Saginaw and now carries the OHL's longest active point streak at 12 games (10 G, 7 A).
SERIES HISTORY: Friday is the second meeting of the season between Flint and Guelph. They previously met on October 14 in Flint and the Firebirds fell just short in a 2-1 loss, the first of four meetings between the clubs this season. Their all-time mark at the Sleeman Centre stands at 10-4-1-0 with a combined overall record of 18-10-2-0 when facing the Storm. Last season the Birds won three of the four games; the split the two games in Guelph and won both games on home ice.
SCOUTING THE STORM: (9-6-0-0, 3rd Midwest Division) -
Forward Jett Luchanko leads the Storm in scoring with five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 15 games. Defenseman Michael Buchinger, a St. Louis Blues prospect, ranks second on the squad with four goals and 13 helpers on the season. His seven power-play assists are currently fifth-most in the league. Braeden Bowman has 16 points (6 G, 10 A) through 15 contests, good for third on the Guelph roster. Wolverine Lake, Michigan native Max Namestnikov tops the Storm in goals scored with eight.
Second-year goaltender Brayden Gillespie has appeared in 12 games this season. He's tied for the league lead in both wins (8) and goals against average (2.26), and his second in save percentage (.925). 2023 Import Draft second-rounder Damian Slavik has appeared in three OHL games in his career thus far, earning one victory and posting a 2.01 goals-against average with a save percentage of .929.
The Storm rank first on the penalty kill, escaping unscathed at an impressive 91.5% clip. They're second with the man advantage, scoring on 29.7% of their power-play chances.
SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (7-7-1-1, 2nd West Division) -
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and overager Kressler now sits atop the leaderboard for Flint. He's scored nine times and assisted on another ten markers for 19 points in 13 games. His 1.46 points-per-game average is the best on the team and 11th in the entire OHL. Zacharie Giroux now sits second with 18 points (8 G, 10 A) through 16 games played. Hayes, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, is third with 17 points (10 G, 7 A) in 14 contests. Hayes is tied for the second-most game-winning tallies in the OHL to date with three and his +14 plus/minus rating is tied for third-best.
Between the pipes, Nathan Day has six wins through 14 appearances. His goals-against average now stands at 4.22 and he carries a save percentage of .859. Rookie Jacob Brown has one win in four appearances and sports a 4.90 GAA and an .830 SV%.
The Firebirds' power play ranks 18th in the OHL with an 11.6% conversion rate. The penalty kill is 14th at 78.3%. In road contests, Flint's penalty kill is 11th in the league at 81.2%.
BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Guelph Storm can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com, or by downloading the US 103 app. Brian Gardner will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network starting with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m.
All of the Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2023-24 season can be watched anywhere in the world online at https://watch.chl.ca/ohl.
COMING UP: Flint's road swing continues with stops in Erie and London before returning to home ice on Saturday, November 18. That night the Owen Sound Attack comes to town for the first time this season, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2023
- Parsons Records Second Straight Shutout in 4-0 Win - Kitchener Rangers
- Firebirds Come up Short in Guelph, 3-2 - Flint Firebirds
- Xhekaj Pair Drives Dogs to Victory Over Niagara - Brantford Bulldogs
- Gaudreau Stops 33, Otters Score Three Unanswered to Down Eastern Conference #1 Sudbury - Erie Otters
- Petes Fall on the Road to League Leading Rangers - Peterborough Petes
- Attack Welcome Alex Gallacher as New Group Sales Coordinator - Owen Sound Attack
- 67's Provide Update on Forward Tuomas Uronen - Ottawa 67's
- Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation Awards $4,750 in Local Hockey Scholarship - Saginaw Spirit
- Memorial Cup Legacy Project Continues with Symphony Lane Additions - Saginaw Spirit
- Rangers Pay Tribute to the Korean War Armistice in Remembrance Day Game - Kitchener Rangers
- Firebirds Look to Bounce Back on Friday Night in Guelph - Flint Firebirds
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