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Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Return Home on Franchise-Best Five-Game Win Streak

January 30, 2020 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Windsor, Ont. - The Flint Firebirds return home for two games this weekend now on a franchise-best five-game winning streak after posting an 8-3 victory over the Spitfires in front of more than 3,500 fans in Windsor Thursday night. For the first time ever, Flint has won four consecutive road games and have recorded an impressive 34 goals (6.8 avg) in their last five games.

For the fifth-straight game, team Captain Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars) scored twice. He was named the game's 'First Star' for his three-point (2G, 1A) performance and he now has 18 total points (10G, 8A) in this five-game stretch. Jack Wismer was the 'Second Star' after scoring twice and Connor Roberts lit the lamp once to earn 'Third Star.' Quinn Yule picked up his first goal as a Firebird, and both former Spitfires' forward Cody Morgan and rookie Braeden Kressler (1G, 1A) also found twine for Flint. Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida Panthers), Tyler Tucker (St. Louis Blues) and Jack Phibbs each had two assists in the game. Goaltender Luke Cavallin earned his ninth win of the season, making 17 saves on 20 shots between the pipes.

Flint scored three unanswered goals in the opening frame, with the first goal coming at only 2:03. Evgeniy Oksentyuk passed to Brennan Othmann below the goal to the right of netminder Xavier Medina. Othmann quickly sent the puck into the slot where Connor Roberts one-timed it under Medina for his 14th of the season.

Next, Quinn Yule scored his first goal as Firebird and second of the season to increase the lead to 2 - 0 at 16:36. Braeden Kressler chased an offensive rebound into the left corner and engaged in a board-battle with two Windsor defenders. Kressler snuck the puck free to Brennan Othmann behind the Spit's net. Othmann made a perfect no-look backhand pass to Yule all alone between the circles. The 6-foot-6 left-handed forward leaned into a heavy one-time slapper that went top corner over the glove of Medina.

Then, the 'Birds converted with the man-advantage at 18:49. Rearguard Owen Lalonde was centered inside the blue line quarterbacking the power-play unit. He passed to Vladislav Kolyachonok low in the right circle, and Kolyachonok returned the pass back to the point. Lalonde was locked and loaded, and blasted a one-timer on goal that was deflected by Cody Morgan in front of the crease. For the former Spitfire Morgan, it was his 12th of the season and third scored on the power play.

First-period shots totaled 9 - 6 to Flint's advantage, and faceoffs favored the Spit's 13 - 11. The 'Birds scored once on two power-play opportunities while remaining out of the penalty box through 20 minutes.

To start the second period, Ty Dellandrea scored back-to-back goals to put his squad up 5 - 0. His first tally was scored at 6:33 on a quick-release wrister from the left-wing faceoff dot, unassisted. Three minutes later, the captain created a short-handed breakaway and was dragged down from behind by a Windsor rearguard. Dellandrea was awarded a penalty shot, and he converted five-hole for his 28th of the season at 9:34.

Moments after the penalty-shot marker, Medina was relieved by rookie netminder Matt Tovell, who had no OHL experience prior to 12:13 of the second period.

Jack Wismer took advantage on the next shot, potting his 13th of the campaign at 13:51 of the middle frame. Tyler Tucker made the point-to-point pass to Dellandrea, who sent a shot on net. Tovell made the right pad save, but Wismer was on the doorstep for the redirection.

The Spitfires then scored a pair of goals late in the stanza to cut their deficit to four. Wyatt Johnston logged his eighth at 14:59 off a two-on-one breakaway. Dylan Robinson and Danil D'Amico combined for the assists. Then Tyler Angle (Columbus Blue Jackets) netted his 22nd of the season at 18:33 off a redirection in front of Cavallin. Ruben Rafkin was credited for the lone helper.

After 40 minutes of play, shots favored Flint 23 - 12. Faceoffs were 24 - 21 to Windsor's advantage. The Firebirds scored on their only chance with the man-advantage and killed off their only penalty successfully.

The Spit's scored their third at 2:03 of period three. Luke Boka launched the initial shot on net from just inside the blue line. Cavallin slid to his left to make the save as Curtis Douglas (Dallas Stars) redirected the shot to the opposite side for his 20th of the season.

Braeden Kressler scored his fourth goal of the season at 6:33. With a defender in tow, the first-year forward crossed the goal line on the right-wing side and fired a wrister far-side from high above the circle. Jack Phibbs picked up the solo assist.

With just under two minutes to play, Tucker passed from the right point to Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) to the left of the crease. Keppen made a move to the right of the slot, drawing the netminder with him. Instead of shooting far-post, Keppen made a drop-pass to Wismer for the back-door one-timer at 18:06.

Final shots were 37 - 20 for the Firebirds, despite Windsor winning the majority of the draws 37 - 26. On special teams, Flint finished two-for-three on the power play and a perfect two-for-two on the penalty kill.

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