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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Rally from Behind Twice, Topple Greyhounds in Overtime

January 28, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. - The Firebirds faced the only team they trailed in the West Division standings, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, on the road Friday night. The Soo jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Flint forced eventual overtime tied at four. Zacharie Giroux netted the game-winner while shorthanded, and had an assist to lead the Firebirds with two points. Luke Cavallin made 36 saves on 40 shots to pick up his 17th victory of the season and earn 'Second Star' accolades. Sahil Panwar assisted on two of Flint's markers, earning the 'Third Star' recognition. On special teams, the Birds scored twice on five chances with the man-advantage while shutting down the OHL's top-ranked power play five times. Tanner Dickinson (St. Louis Blues) scored twice for the Hounds en-route to 'First Star' honors, and Tynan Tucker made 28 saves on 32 shots for his club.

With this being the first meeting of the season between these clubs, it was expected that the opening minutes would be spent feeling the other team out. It took more than 19 minutes, however, before either team solved the opposing netminder. Rory Kerins (Calgary Flames) carried behind Flint's net and found an open Cole MacKay in the right circle. MacKay settled the puck and traversed the slot before lifting a wrister just inside the near post for his 16th of the season at 19:04.

The Hounds led 1-0 after the first 20 minutes of play. They outshot Flint 13-9 and outdrew the Birds 14-7. Both teams had one power-play chance, but neither scored.

The second period featured plenty of scoring, with both teams netting two. First, Keegan McMullen took a shot from high between the circles, and his shot his teammate Cole Mackay in the high slot. The puck deflected to the left of the net, where Robert Caliste collected it and tucked it inside the near post from below the goal line to Cavallin's right. It was Calisti's 15th of the season, recorded at 5:08 of the middle frame.

Next, Tye Kartye and Tanner Dickinson emerged on a two-on-one breakaway in their offensive zone. Kartye held the puck until they reached the middle of their respective circles, then sent a laser pass to Dickinson on the right side for a one-timer goal. Kalvyn Watson picked up the second assist on Dickinson's 17th, scored at 9:52.

Then Flint tilted the ice back in their favor, scoring two straight before heading back to the locker rooms. Red-hot Riley Piercey received a break-out pass from Sahil Panwar on the power play that sprung him free from the blue line in. He deked forehand, backhand, then back to the forehand before tucking the puck between Tynan's right skate and the left post for his 16th goal of the season and fifth goal in the past four games. The game's first power-play tally was logged at 13:16.

Finally, the Birds' top-scoring defender Tyler Deline was poised in front of the Soo net and took two swings at a juicy rebound off a Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) shot before potting his fourth of the campaign at 17:44. Zacharie Giroux was credited with the second assist.

Second-period shots ended 13-12 to Sault Ste. Marie's advantage. Faceoffs again favored the Greyhounds as well, this time by a margin of 13-9. Flint scored on their lone man-advantage situation while keeping the Soo off the boards on their lone opportunity.

The third period was barely a minute old when Sahil Panwar tried to spring Othmann free on a breakaway as a Greyhound power play expired. A Soo defender paced Othmann, but Flint's captain was able to create space for a shot from the left circle. His shot beat Tynan above his right pad but below the glove at 1:06 for Othmann's team-leading 28th of the campaign. The game was tied at three.

The Greyhounds reclaimed the lead relatively early in the third. Kirill Kudryavstev gloved down a clearing attempt by the Firebirds in the seventh minute of the final stanza. He hit Dickinson with a quick pass high between the circles. Dickinson's one-timer passed through a screen in front and past Cavallin blocker-side for his 18th of the season at 6:38.

Near the middle of period three, the Firebirds took back-to-back penalties, giving the OHL's top-rated power play a prime opportunity to seal a victory. It was the third-ranked penalty kill, however, that came through for the Birds and kept the game within reach.

The Firebirds received their fourth power-play chance beginning with four minutes to play, still down by a goal. Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) carried up the left-wing side and advanced the puck to the corner when his defender pinched in. Tag Bertuzzi gathered the puck in the corner and skated behind the Hounds' cage. He slid the puck into the slot for Amadeus Lombardi to one-time the game-tying goal at 16:27.

Third-period shots again favored the Hounds 12-10. Flint finally held the advantage in faceoffs, going 13 for 21 in the final frame of regulation. The Birds scored once on three power-play chances in the final frame while holding the Greyhounds scoreless on two opportunities.

The teams traded scoring chances in the five-minute overtime period, but then the Hounds were given a 4-on-3 power play with 2:15 left to play. Zack Terry, however, took control in the offensive end, fended off three Greyhound players and fed Zacharie Giroux in the high slot for a wide-open wrister that found paydirt at 3:48 of the extra frame to secure Flint's victory.

Next Up: The OHL has once again been forced to make several schedule changes for the near future. Now, Flint will embark on a three-game rivalry series with the Saginaw Spirt over the next five days. These two clubs will battle Saturday night at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw before the Firebirds host the Spirit for a 2:00 p.m. matinee tilt on Sunday. Sunday's contest is another FUNday, where fans can purchase one adult ticket at regular price and get two kids' tickets for free. Tickets for Sunday's game against the Saginaw Spirit are available.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2022


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