OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Record Most Points in a Single Season, Win 4-1 over Otters Saturday

April 9, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich - The Firebirds surpassed yet another franchise record, this time for goals scored on home ice in a season. The previous record of 124 fell, and Flint now has 125. The club also set a new milestone for points in a season, now with 83 points in the standings. Tag Bertuzzi logged a goal and an assist on overager night and earned 'First Star' honors for his efforts. His fellow overager Luke Cavallin made 28 saves on 29 shots en route to being named 'Second Star.' Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) was 'Third Star' in the contest. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) earned an assist, tying the all-time Flint record for points in a season at 90. Aidan Campbell got the start in net for Erie and stopped 30 of 34 shots, while Brendan Sellan buried the lone goal for the visitors.

The first period ended with a 0-0 tie. Flint outshot Erie 8-7, and outdrew them 10-2. The Birds were unable to convert on either power play in the frame, and the Otters were scoreless with one chance.

It only took 2:55 of the second period to get the game's first goal. Tyler Deline fed Zacharie Giroux with a nice cross-ice pass in the neutral zone. Deline carried across the blue line and to the middle of the left circle, before dropping the puck for the trailing Tag Bertuzzi. The overager sniped one past Aidan Campbell for his 20th of the season.

Just past the midway point of the game, a turnover at Flint's blue line resulted in a four-on-two rush the other direction. Carey Terrance was on the right side of a two-on-one and elected to drop the puck for the third man in, Ryan Thompson. The second-year defender shot and Cavallin made the save. The rebound however found Brendan Sellan for a short-range snapper up high, glove side. It was Sellan's 20th of the season as well, logged at 10:32.

The Birds regained the lead on the power play at 17:30. Dmitry Kuzmin carried up the right side of the ice sheet, and once across the blue line chipped the puck past two defenders. With a burst of speed, he bypassed both rearguards and reclaimed possession. From there, he quickly launched a wrister far-side, which Campbell got a piece of with his paddle. The deflection of the goal stick struck the top corner of the net for Kuzmin's 17th of the campaign. Luca D'Amato assisted on the tally along with Bertuzzi.

Second-period shots ended 14-10 to the Otters' advantage, despite Flint winning more faceoffs 15-5. Erie was again unable to solve the OHL's top penalty kill, but the Firebirds converted on their lone chance with the man-advantage.

Roughly one minute into the third period, Sahil Panwar gathered a mishandled puck at the Erie blue line and was off the races. He split two defenders through the neutral zone and was a pace ahead from his blue line in on goal. He found paydirt low, glove-side for his 17th of the season at 1:04, unassisted.

During four-on-four play, Luca D'Amato leaned into a slapper from above the right-wing circle. Campbell made the save, but the puck bounced off the goaltender's blocker and into the chest of Zack Terry. It immediately deflected back into the goal, which gave Terry credit for his ninth of the season at 12:41. Othmann picked up the second assist, which was his 90th point of the season.

The Firebirds held on for a 4-1 victory. In total, they outshot the Otters 34-29 while controlling the faceoff dots 38-22. Flint finished 1-for-5 with extra man while holding Erie off the scoreboard with five power-play chances.

Next Up: The Firebirds are right back in action Sunday afternoon as they host the Sarnia Sting for the first of back-to-back home games. Sunday, April 10 will be 'Family Funday' at the Dort Financial Center with puck drop now scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (ET). Get two FREE kids (ages 12 & under) tickets with every paid adult ticket. Tickets to Sunday's game are available to purchase from ETIX.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2022


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