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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Roll into Guelph on Friday

January 19, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


GUELPH, Ont. - The Firebirds had two key victories last week with the revamped roster, but then stumbled to a 7-2 defeat against the Erie Otters on the road on Saturday. They now arrived in Guelph to face the Storm, who have dropped three straight games and are also looking to right the ship. Puck drop at the Sleeman Centre for the Firebirds and the Storm is set ofr 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

LAST TIME OUT: Simon Slavicek scored for the third consecutive game and Blake Smith netted his second of the season, but the Erie Otters were too much as they beat the Firebirds, 7-2, on Saturday night at the Erie Insurance Arena. Dylan Edwards logged his first career hat trick to lead the offensive charge for the Otters. Jacob Brown made 22 saves on 29 shots and Nolan Dann extended his point streak to 11 games with an assist on the first Firebirds goal.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the fourth and final meeting between these clubs this season, and is the second of two at the Sleeman Centre. The Storm have swept the series thus far with three closely contested wins, each settled by a single goal. On October 14 the final score was 2-1 in Flint, then 3-2 on November 10 in Guelph. Most recently, the Storm won another 3-2 contest at the Dort Financial Center on December 30. The Birds have gone 18-12-2-0 versus Guelph all time and hold a 10-5-1-0 mark in road games.

SCOUTING THE STORM: (23-16-2-1, 3rd Midwest Division) -

Sophomore center Jett Luchanko sits atop the scoresheet with 14 goals and a team-leading 34 helpers for 48 points. Overage forward Braeden Bowman ranks second with a balanced 23 goals and 23 assists. Washington Capitals prospect Jake Karabela has 38 points to rank third with 17 tallies and 21 assists.

Second-year goaltender Brayden Gillespie has appeared in 34 contests this season and earned 18 victories including one shutout. His goals-against average is 2.90 and his save percentage is .903. Damian Slavik is in his first season in the OHL and he's won five games through ten appearances. He carries a .909 SV% and a GAA of 2.54.

Guelph has the sixth-ranked power play that's scoring on 24.2% of its chances. Their penalty kill is ninth in the league with an 80.0% success rate.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (17-21-2-1, 3rd West Division) -

Overage forward Oliver Peer tops the Firebirds in scoring with 24 goals and 29 assists for 53 points in 40 games. In three games with Flint since the trade deadline Peer has six points (2 G, 4 A). Team captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre ranks second with 39 points (18 G, 21 A) in 39 games. For his career, Pitre has 143 points in 150 OHL contests. Overager Dann sits third with 15 tallies and 20 helpers and rides an 11-game point streak (7 G, 8 A) into tonight's game.

Nathan Day now has 15 wins across 34 appearances. He carries a 3.90 goals-against average and a save percentage of .862. If Day gets the nod in goal in Guelph this evening, he'll be playing in his 75th career OHL game. Rookie netminder Brown carries a 4.82 GAA and an .836 SV% with two wins through ten appearances.

The Birds rank 15th in the league with the man advantage, converting on 17.5% of their opportunities. The penalty kill is 14th-best at a 77.3% rate. Noteworthy is Flint's penalty kill in road games at an 83.5% clip, which ranks sixth in the OHL.

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 pregame 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: The Birds return to the friendly confines of the Dort Financial Center on Saturday to host the Sting. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. tilt with Sarnia are available now from ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2024


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