OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Ride Four-Game Point Streak into Friday Night Meeting with Erie

Published on November 3, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds welcome the Erie Otters for the first time this season on Friday night in Flint. It's the second game of a Michigan road swing for the Otters, who beat the Saginaw Spirit, 6-5, on Thursday night in Saginaw. This will be the first of four meetings between the Firebirds and Otters this season, and the first of two to be played in Flint. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

MOMENTUM: The Firebirds have points in four straight games and six of their last seven. Only three of the OHL's 20 teams have earned more points in the past ten games than Flint (13). Captain Zacharie Giroux (8 G, 6 A) and Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Gavin Hayes (7 G, 4A) are now riding impressive nine-game point streaks. Also heating up is Dallas Stars prospect Tristan Bertucci, who is riding a five game point streak. The defenseman has two goals and six assists during the life of his five-game streak. Nathan Day, an Edmonton Oilers prospect has three straight wins in goal, and five wins in his past six starts. He's allowed three goals or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.

SERIES HISTORY: Flint holds an all-time record of 19-10-2-2 versus Erie, with ten contests being settled by a single goal. On home ice, the mark is 9-6-2-0. A year ago, the Birds won three of four games in the series.

NEARING A CENTURY: Braeden Kressler tallied three assists in the win over Owen Sound on Wednesday, pushing his career OHL point total to 99. Kressler has 44 goals and 55 assists in 131 career OHL games. He has multiple points in four consecutive games, during which he has recorded three goals and six assists. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect is second on the team with 13 points. Additionally, Nolan Dann scored in the first period on Wednesday and now has 98 career OHL points. He has put up 46 goals and 52 assists in 139 career OHL games.

SCOUTING THE OTTERS: (4-7-2-0, 5th Midwest Division) -

Anaheim Ducks prospect Carey Terrance rides an 11-game point (9 G, 8 A) streak heading into Friday's tilt, which is the second-longest active streak in the league. He also tops the Otters in scoring with 18 total points (9 G, 9 A) across 14 games played.

Martin Misiak, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, ranks second for Erie with eight goals and eight helpers. Ondrej Molnar and Malcolm Spence sit tied for third with 13 points apiece. Molnar has scored four times and chipped in nine helpers while Spence has two tallies with 11 assists.

Ben Gaudreau, formerly of the Sarnia Sting, has appeared in ten contests this season, nine of which have been in goal for the Otters. He's picked up five wins and earned a 3.46 goals-against average (GAA) with a .889 save percentage (SV%). Rookie Jacob Gibbons has a GAA of 7.32 and a SV% of .742 through five appearances.

On special teams, the Otters rank fifth on the power play, scoring on 26.8% of their chances. They're killing penalties at a 67.3% clip, ranking 20th.

Notable Otters' alumni to play in the NHL include current Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Connor McDavid, Connor Brown, Nikita Alexeev, Brad Boyes, Tim Connoly, Mike Rupp, Steve Montador, Carlo Colaiacovo, Chris Campoli, Jason Ward, and Dylan Strome.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (6-6-1-0, 3rd West Division) -

Giroux is atop the leaderboard for the Birds with eight goals and seven assists for 15 total points through 13 games. With nine points in his last four games (3 G, 6 A), Braeden Kressler has assumed the second spot with five tallies and eight helpers through 10 games played. Hayes sits third with an even 11 points (7 G, 4 A) through 11 games. Rookie forward Jeremy Martin is tied for the league among all OHL rookies with five goals this season and is one of only three rookies with a shorthanded tally.

Between the pipes, Day has five victories in 11 appearances. His goals-against average now stands at 4.43 and he carries a save percentage of .854. Rookie Jacob Brown has one win in three appearances and sports a 5.76 GAA and an .810 SV%.

After going 2-for-2 on the power play in Owen Sound on Wednesday, the Firebirds power-play is now ranked 19th with a 9.8% efficiency. The penalty kill ranks 16th with a 76.9% success rate. They're tied for the second-most shorthanded markers in the league with four.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Erie Otters 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 6:45 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.

PROMOTIONS: The Firebirds start off the weekend on Friday with Pucks Four Paws, benefitting the Humane Society of Genesee County. Bring your dog to the game for FREE by donating one of the following items: cleaning or laundry supplies, puppy/dog food, kitten/cat food, or cat/dog toys. Dog sections will be general admission seating in sections 16 & 18. Fans are encouraged to bring a donation, but If you would like to bring your dog and do not bring a donation item, dog tickets can be purchased for $5.00 at the box office window. It is required that you provide paperwork for the dog being licensed & up to date on all their rabies, parvovirus, and bordetella vaccinations, no exceptions. One dog per adult. Please no aggressive dogs, the team reserves the right to refuse any dog entry.

If you are a season ticket member and plan on bringing your dog you must exchange your Friday, November 3rd ticket(s) at the box office for a ticket(s) in the general admission dog section. Or, if you sit in sections 16 & 18 and you do not wish to be around dogs, please bring your season membership ticket(s) to the box office and exchange them for a new seat.

COMING UP: The Firebirds are back in action Saturday with another home game, this time hosting the OHL's first-place Mississauga Steelheads for the only time this season. The game is the club's annual Military Appreciation Night. All active duty service members & veterans are eligible to receive a FREE ticket at the Dort Financial Center box office window with proof of service, courtesy of Dort Financial Credit Union, The DM Burr Group, The View Newspaper Group, and Martin's Tire & Service.

Additionally, the Firebirds will be wearing specialty jerseys honoring our active duty service members & veterans. Be sure to stick around after the game for the post-game jersey auction, benefitting Folds of Honor. Game time is 7:00 p.m., for more information, contact the Dort Financial Center Box Office at (810)-744-0580!

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2023


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