OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Sink the Otters 9-6 in Wild, High-Scoring Battle Wednesday

Published on December 8, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds came out on top in a game that featured plenty of scoring, highlighted by the D'Amato brothers combining for five total goals. Flint's Luca D'Amato scored twice earned one assist en-route to 'First Star' honors in the contest. His brother Daniel D'Amato recorded a hat trick and a four-point night and was named the game's second star. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) scored twice and assisted twice for a four-point outing, while Amadeus Lombardi (2 G, 1 A) and Coulson Pitre (3 A) each recorded three points. Brendan Hoffman also picked up three points (2 G, 1 A) for Erie. On special teams, the Birds scored three power-play goals and killed off both penalties taken to remain the top-ranked penalty-kill in the OHL. Between the pipes, Ian Michelone made 20 saves on 26 shots to earn his fourth win in just his sixth OHL appearance.

The Otters lit the lamp twice in the first ten minutes of play to jump out to an early two-goal lead. Just past the two-minute mark, Brendan Hoffmann sprung Daniel D'Amato on a short-handed breakaway. D'Amato lifted a shot high to the glove-side for his sixth of the season, logged at 2:18. Then, just before the midway point of the opening frame, Hoffman picked up a turnover in the Flint zone and quickly netted his team-leading tenth of the campaign low, glove-side. Erie's second goal was unassisted, scored at 9:52.

With just over a minute to play in the first, Riley Piercey blocked a shot in his defensive end. The puck deflected off Piercey and it was picked up by Tyler Deline. The defenseman made a heads-up pass to Brennan Othmann across the neutral, hitting his forward as he was crossing the offensive blue line. Othmann skated in on LaLonde unaccompanied and shot low glove-side for his 16th of the campaign at 18:48. Piercey and Deline were credited with the assists.

The Birds trailed 2-1 heading into the locker room for the first intermission. Shots were 12-7 in favor of the Otters during the opening frame, but Flint won 11 of 17 faceoffs in the period. Flint went 0-for-2 with the man-advantage while killing off their lone penalty.

Erie extended the lead back to two just 38 seconds into the middle frame. Christian Kyrou made a spin-o-rama to free himself of a defender as he passed to D'Amato centered high above the circles. D'Amato launched a slapper that found twine for his second marker of the night, assisted by Kyrou and Cameron Morton.

During a five-on-three power play for the Birds, Deline fired a slapper into traffic in the slot. Riley Piercey was able to get a stick on the shot, redirecting past LaLonde for his eighth of the season at 2:54. Deline and Othmann picked up the helpers.

At 6:57 of the action-packed second period, Hoffman dropped to a knee to one-time a pass from Brett Bressette on goal. The one-timer struck paydirt for Hoffman's second marker of the game and 11th of the season, assisted by Bressette and Kaleb Smith, to give Erie the 4-2 lead.

The Firebirds would battle back to score twice more before the conclusion of the second period, tying the game at four. First, Zacharie Giroux was centered behind the Erie cage with the puck and connected a tape-to-tape pass with Othmann as he crashed the net from the right circle. Othmann one-timed the pass over a diving defenseman and passed LaLonde for his second of the night at 10:27. Less than a minute later, Amadeus Lombardi cashed in on his own rebound at 12:16 for his eighth of the season, assisted by Gavin Hayes and Zach Terry.

Near the end of the second period, Lombardi was awarded a penalty shot. His fake shot appeared to earn the commitment of the netminder, but the ensuing shot was saved by LaLonde's right pad.

Second-period shots ended 15-6 to Flint's advantage. The Birds also controlled the faceoff circles again, winning 13 draws to Erie's 9. Flint scored once on three power-play opportunities while keeping the Otters scoreless on two chances.

Near the four-minute mark of period three, Kyrou dumped the puck into the left corner of his offensive zone. D'Amato won the foot race to the loose puck and carried it behind the Flint net. He attempted a wraparound to Michelone's left that didn't connect, but Bressette was in position to redirect the puck behind Flint's netminder for his 10th of the season at 3:59.

The Firebirds answered with another pair of goals to reclaim the lead at 6-5. Zack Terry thwarted a clearing attempt by the Otters at his right defensive point and moved the puck forward to Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs). Kressler passed back to Ethan Hay who was centered high above the circles. Hay slid the puck to Tag Bertuzzi just outside the goal crease to LaLonde's left for a one-timer under the glove for his fourth at 5:09. Next, Coulson Pitre carried up the left-wing boards and passed it to Lombardi in the left circle. Lombardi fed Hayes across the slot for back-door redirection that resulted in Hayes' fourth of the season at 5:58.

The next three goals were scored by the D'Amato brothers, playing against one another. While on the power play, Flint's Luca D'Amato sent a high wrister from just inside the blue line that found twine through traffic for his fourth of the season at 7:30, assisted by Othmann and Pitre. The Firebirds led 7-5.

The Otters fought back and pulled within a goal once more at 12:06 with Daniel D'Amato's hat-trick tally, which was also his second shorthanded marker of the night. This time he was assisted by Noah Sedore.

Flint took an 8-6 lead at the 12:22 mark on Luca D'Amato's second power-play goal of the period. Marcus Gretz and Ty Petrou drew the assists.

Finally, Lombardi scored his second and Flint's ninth of the night at even strength with 4:09 remaining in regulation. Pitre and Luca D'Amato chipped in the helpers.

The final shots were 44 for Flint and 26 for the visiting Otters. While Erie finished 0-for-2 with the man-advantage, the Firebirds scored three times on seven power plays. Faceoffs favored Flint 38-23.

Next Home Game: The Firebirds return to home ice this weekend for back-to-back battles with the Owen Sound Attack. Friday night is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used teddy bears to toss on the ice after Flint scores their first goal. The teddy bears will be collected and donated to the Old Newsboys of Flint, the YWCA, Hurley Medical Center, and many others. Family four-pack of tickets (includes food and drinks) are available starting at just $72. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET). Tickets are on sale NOW here: ETIX. On Saturday, bring in a Toy (recommended minimum $10 value) and get a FREE ticket compliments of Dort Financial Credit Union. Toys will be collected leading up to the game at the Firebirds Merchandise Store, the 'Birds Nest". The Flint Firebirds will be wearing special Santa jerseys and there will be a Live Auction to follow the conclusion of the game. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. (ET) and tickets can be purchased NOW here: ETIX.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2021


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