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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Score Franchise-High 11 Goals in Victory over Saginaw

January 10, 2017 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - Kole Sherwood racked-up a team high seven points and nine players earned multi-point nights in an 11-2 triumph over the Saginaw Spirit Tuesday night. With the victory, the Firebirds now hold a 4-1 series lead in the best-of-eight Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup race. Flint has won six of the last seven games against the Saginaw Spirit.

The 11-2 victory is the Flint Firebirds' franchise most in a game and Kole Sherwood is the first Firebird to score five goals in a single contest.

Mathieu Henderson opened the scoring for the Firebirds 1:17 into the first period after he rifled a shot from the right point that beat Evan Cormier (New Jersey Devils) high blocker-side for his ninth goal of the season, earning Flint a 1-0 lead. C.J. Clarke collected an assist in his first game and first shift with his new club.

The Firebirds doubled their lead less than three minutes later when Ryan Moore buried his 21st goal of the season after Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) sauced a cross-crease pass to Moore on a two-on-one. Moore tapped the puck in backdoor to earn the Firebirds a 2-0 lead.

Flint scored their third goal in less than five minutes when Sherwood scored his 16th goal of the season and first-of-five on the night after the puck bounced in off his skate in the crease for the Firebirds eventual game-winning goal. Saginaw's Brendan Bonello replaced Cormier after the goal.

The Spirit cut the deficit to two when Brady Gilmour scored his 12th goal of the season with 1:32 remaining in the first frame after he ripped a shot from the left-circle that beat Connor Hicks blocker-side to make the score 3-1.

Sherwood regained the Firebirds three-goal lead with 38 seconds left in the first when he tallied his second-of-the-night, forehand-backhand, beating Brandon Bonello blocker-side.

Flint extended their lead to four goals with three seconds remaining in the first period when Sherwood recorded a Hat-Trick after Moore fed him the puck on the left-side of the cage. Sherwood fired a shot that beat Bonello glove-side to put the Firebirds up 5-1.

Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) brought Flint ahead 6-1 at the 5:58 mark of the second period scoring his sixth goal of the season by one-timing a pass from Jake Durham at the point that beat Bonello over his shoulder.

Flint continued their scoring streak to lead by six when Durham scored his fourth goal of the season and second in two games after he one-timed a drop-pass from Ty Dellandrea at the right-circle, beating Bonello short-side. Bonello was replaced by Cormier again in the net after Flint's seventh goal.

The Firebirds scored their fifth consecutive goal when Everett Clark notched his 11th tally of the season after he tapped-in a one-timer from in front of the net to make the score 8-1.

Mike Davies cut the deficit to six goals when he scored his fourth goal of the season after he beat Hicks top-shelf on a wrap-around to make the score 8-2.

Sherwood then scored his fourth goal of the night after he ripped a wrist-shot from the right-circle that beat Cormier high-blocker to earn Flint a 9-2 lead.

The Firebirds extend their lead to eight goals when Sherwood buried his franchise-record fifth goal of the night and 20th of the season with seven seconds remaining in the second period after he cleaned-up a rebound on the left-side of the net, beating a sprawling Cormier.

Flint led 10-2 after two periods of play.

Maurizio Colella then scored the Firebirds' third consecutive goal and his eighth goal of the season 15 seconds into the third period after Colella finished a tic-tac-toe play, beating Cormier on the backhand for the final goal of the game to make the score 11-2.

Colella's one goal and two assists earned him four points in his first two games with the Firebirds since being acquired in a trade Thursday with the North Bay Battalion. C.J. Clarke picked up two assists in his first game as a Firebird after being acquired yesterday in a trade with the Peterborough Petes.

The Firebirds outshot the Spirit 35-27. Flint was zero-for-four on the power-play but were a perfect two-for-two on the penalty kill. Sherwood earned first star honors after scoring five times and tallying two assists. The second star was awarded to Moore who collected five points and Colella racked-up three points while earning third star honors. Hicks made 25 saves on 27 shots.

The Firebirds return back to action when they travel to Niagara to face the IceDogs this Friday night, Jan. 13. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Meridian Centre in Niagara, Ont. Fans unable to make the trip to Niagara can listen to the game can listen live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here. Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig will begin 35 minutes prior to puck drop at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in Niagara on channel 10 for Cogeco TV cable subscribers and throughout the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 439 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 480 for Cogeco TV subscribers. (Broadcast Information). Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live App.

Next Home Game:

The Firebirds return back to Flint Friday, Jan. 20 against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. During the month of January, fans may bring in three or more canned or boxed food items to receive a complimentary Silver Level ticket. Fans may drop off donated food at the Flint Firebirds Merchandise Store to receive the discount.

Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. Prices are unchanged from last season and all seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2017


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