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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Seek Fifth Straight Win on Saturday against Windsor

February 17, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Firebirds have vaulted themselves into eighth place in the Western Conference by virtue of a pair of wins over the Sarnia Sting on Wednesday and Friday night. They now trail the Eries Otters by two points for the seventh spot. On Saturday the Birds are set to host the Windsor Spitfires with two big points on the line. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

WINNING WEEK: The Birds and the Bees entered this week's pair of games even at two wins apiece in their annual eight-game series. On Wednesday in Flint, Tristan Bertucci scored in his return from injury, Marko Stojkov netted the game-tying goal in his 100th OHL game, and Nolan Dann tallied one goal in regulation and another in the shootout, helping power the Firebirds to a 4-3 shootout win. Then on Friday in Sarnia, five different Firebirds found twine in a decisive 5-2 road victory. Nathan Day donned the pads both nights and made a combined 47 saves on 52 shots for his 19th and 20th wins of the campaign.

SERIES HISTORY: Saturday's game is the third of six games between the Birds and Spits this season and is the first of three scheduled at the Dort Financial Center. Windsor claimed two home victories by a combined score of 11-6. The Spitfires' top performer in the two prior meetings was Oliver Peer with a hat trick in the first game and a total of four assists across both tilts. He will now face his former club for the first time since his trade to Flint, as will defenseman Roberto Mancini, both of whom were aquired from Windsor at the trade deadline. Flint's all-time record versus the Spitfires stands at 14-28-3-1 with a 9-13-0-0 mark at the Dort Financial Center.

SCOUTING THE SPITFIRES: (16-29-3-3, 5th West Division) -

Second-year winger Liam Greentree leads the Spitfires in goals (28), assists (43), and total points (71) in 47 games played. Livonia, Mich. native Ryan Abraham ranks second on the club with 23 goals and 21 helpers for 44 points through 48 games. Former Saginaw Spirit and Guelph Storm forward Valentin Zhugin has 36 points (18 G, 18 A) across 50 contests.

Max Donoso has appeared in 34 games combined between the Spitfires and Ottawa 67's this season and has earned one shutout and 11 total victories. His goals-against average stands at 3.77 and his save percentage is .883. Joey Costanzo has ten wins across 30 appearances, and he carries a 4.88 GAA with an .856 SV%.

Windsor's power play is 13th-best in the league, scoring on 19.3% of their chances. The penalty kill is clicking at a 74.7% rate which ranks 18th.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (23-25-3-1, 3rd West Division) -

Oliver Peer leads the Firebirds on the scoresheet with 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points for the season. Since becoming a Firebird he has scored nine times and picked up eight helpers for 17 points in 14 games. Peer is tied for the fifth-most goals across the league while leading the field with the first goal of the game nine times. Fellow overager Nolan Dann has kept his foot on the gas with points in his last nine straight (7 G, 7 A) and 21 of his last 22 games (14 G, 17 A). He ranks second for the season with 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points. Coulson Pitre is third with 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points, followed by Simon Slavicek with 34 points (11 G, 23 A).

Nathan Day has 20 wins through 44 appearances in net, including victories in his last three starts. His goals-against average is 3.81 with a .863 save percentage. Jacob Brown carries a 4.43 GAA and an .846 SV% with three wins through 11 games.

The Firebirds rank 16th on the power play with a 17.9% conversion rate. They've scored five markers with the man advantage in their last four games. The penalty kill ranks 14th overall at 77.5%.

ODDS & ENDS: The Firebirds have now won four in a row for the first time this season... Alex Kostov has put together a three-game point streak with two goals and three assists in his last three games. Prior to that, he had not recorded a point in his first 12 games as a Firebird. Kostov is also tied for the OHL's fourth-most shorthanded tallies (4)... Flint's schedule features 11 home games in their final 16 regular-season contests. Four of those games will be against the Spitfires, including Friday night.

PROMOTIONS: Saturday is the club's Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants Night, sponsored by Shea Automotive Group. The Firebirds will be wearing specialty SpongeBob Squarepants jerseys that will be auctioned off live following the game. Proceed from the auction will benefit the Flint Firebirds Foundation.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Windsor Spitfires 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 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.

COMING UP: Flint travels north on I-75 Wednesday to face their in-state rivals in Saginaw for the final time this year. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Dow Event Center. Then the Firebirds return home for a pair of home games next weekend against the Bulldogs and Battalion. Tickets for Friday's and Saturday's contests are available now from ETIX.com.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2024


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