OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Set Sights on Two Points in the Soo

Published on March 22, 2024 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - With two games remaining in the regular season, the Firebirds find themselves in eighth place in the Western Conference and just one point behind the seventh-place Owen Sound Attack with a game in hand. Flint could finish either in seventh or eighth depending on how the final week of the regular season and will play either the Soo Greyhounds, Saginaw Spirit or London Knights in the first round of the OHL Playoffs. The Firebirds have won four of their last five games and have points in seven of ten. The Greyhounds are currently third in the Western Conference, with points in nine of their last ten contests. With two games remaining in its season as well, Soo can finish either in second or third place in the West. Friday night's puck drop between the Birds and the Hounds is set for 7:07 p.m. at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

LAST TIME OUT: The Birds fell behind just 75 seconds into the first period Wednesday and never found the score sheet as they were blanked by the Erie Otters, 5-0, at the Dort Financial Center. Erie's goaltender Ethan Fraser stopped all 26 Flint shots and Dylan Edwards scored two goals to pace Erie offensively. It was only the second time the Firebirds were shut out all season, as they had both their four-game point streak and four-game home winning streak snapped in the process.

SERIES HISTORY: Friday is the sixth and final meeting between the Birds and the Hounds this season and is the third of three scheduled at the GFL Memorial Gardens. Flint's mark in the series thus far is 2-2-1-0, with a 1-1-0-0 mark in Sault Ste. Marie. In the most recent tilt, the Firebirds won 4-3 in a shootout at the Dort Financial Center on March 13. Flint's record with the Greyhounds stands at 22-20-2-2 all-time and is 11-10-0-1 across all road games.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS: (44-17-3-2, 2nd West Division) -

Overage forward Jack Beck leads the Hounds in assists (58) and total points (84) through 66 games played. Former Firebird and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes has the most goals on the club (37) and is second with 77 points through 54 contests this season. Hayes also rides a ten-game point streak into tonight's game, having scored five goals and earned 12 helpers for 17 points in that span. Marco Mignosa ranks third with 21 goals and 31 assists through 55 tilts.

Between the pipes, Charlie Schenkel has 27 wins, including two shutouts across 45 campaign appearances. His goals-against average is 3.09, while his save percentage sits at .884. Rookie Landon Miller has 17 wins through 29 appearances and carries a 2.59 GAA with an .898 SV%.

Soo's power play ranks seventh in the league with a 23.1% conversion rate. Its penalty kill sits tenth at 79.0%.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (30-31-4-1, 3rd West Division):

Oliver Peer's 78 points are tops for Flint, as are his 36 goals and 42 assists. Nolan Dann holds down second with 28 tallies and 35 markers for 63 points. Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre sits third with 55 points from 27 goals and 28 assists.

Nathan Day has appeared in 53 games this season and earned 25 victories. He carries a 3.76 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage. Jacob Brown has five wins through 17 appearances and rides a 4.26 GAA and an .853 SV%.

Flint's power play ranks 17th in the league with a conversion rate of 17.1%. It stands tenth-best in road games, scoring at a 21.2% clip. The penalty kill is successful 78.4% of the time, ranking 12th. There again, in road games that improves to fourth-best with an 83.8% kill rate.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: Friday's game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 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: The Birds return home to host the Sarnia Sting for the final home game of the regular season this Saturday. The game on Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Dover Doors! The Firebirds want to thank fans for their support all season long! The first 2,000 fans will get a tote bag, courtesy of Dover Doors, and there will be more giveaways, plus a postgame live auction of our warmup jerseys! It's also overager night when we'll recognize the three players appearing in their final regular season OHL game: Roberto Mancini, Oliver Peer, and Nolan Dann. Saturday's puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available now from ETIX.com.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central