OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Stun Rangers with Three Goals in Final Three Minutes, Sets up Showdown with Saginaw in Playoffs

March 24, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Kitchener, Ont. - More than 7,000 fans were on hand at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Friday night to watch a late three-goal lead slip away, as the visiting Firebirds scored three goals in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime. Amadeus Lombardi became the first Firebird to 100 points in a season, scoring five points and Gavin Hayes netted the game-winning marker 1:05 into the extra frame to steal a huge victory in Flint's final road game of the season. The also set new benchmarks in total goals scored in a season (287) and most power-play tallies with 54. Rookie Nathan Day earned the start in net for the Birds and picked up his 17th win of the season with 33 saves on 38 shots. The Rangers started veteran Marco Costantini, who posted a season-high 46 stops in his 126th OHL appearance.

The teams both brought the increased intensity expected with so much still undecided in the Western Conference Playoffs standings. Through the first media timeout just past the midway point of the opening frame, the scoreboard remained unchanged. The Rangers would light the lamp at the 11:02 mark to claim the first lead. Francesco Arcuri sniped a wrister from the center of the left faceoff circle that snuck through the five-hole for his 48th of the season, unassisted.

Flint went into the first break trailing 1-0 on the road, despite outshooting the Rangers 16-9 through 20 minutes. The Birds also outdrew Kitchener 17-5. Flint had two power-play chances but were unable to convert, and the penalty kill did its job, thwarting the Blue Shirts's lone opportunity.

Early in the second, a turnover by the Rangers deep in their defensive end resulted in Riley Piercey starting a quick scoring play to tie the game. Piercey fed Gavin Hayes in the right corner, and the Chicago Blackhawks' prospect carried behind the Rangers' net before centering the puck to Amadeus Lombardi centered above the hash marks. Lombardi one-timed the pass beyond Costantini for his 44th of the season at 0:42 of period two. With the goal, Lombardi became the single-season points leader for the Firebirds with 98.

The Rangers continued to battle and reclaimed the advantage at 8:48. Lleyton Moore gained the zone on the left side and dropped a short pass to Misaljevic trailing at full speed. Misaljevic hesitated until Moore created a screen in front before hammering the puck past Day for his fourth of the campaign.

Once again the Firebirds headed to the locker room trailing by one. Flint outshot the Rangers 18-14 in the middle frame and faceoffs saw Flint with a 13-9 advantage. Special teams went untested through the center stanza.

The game's first power-play tally tied the game at two early in the third. The Firebirds were on the man advantage and Hayes carried to the left side of the hash marks before dishing right to Lombardi in the right circle. Lombardi quickly dished across the slot for a tap-in by Riley Piercey on the far side of the blue paint. The marker was Piercey's 21st of the year, logged at 4:16.

It only took 20 seconds for Kitchener to reclaim the lead again. Carson Rehkopf sprinted into the zone and ripped a wrister far side and in for his 30th at 4:36. Mitchell Martin was credited with the lone assist.

It appeared that Arcuri scored his second of the night to double the lead for the home team at 8:44, but the goal was disallowed after review for offsides. Momentum stayed in favor of the Rangers though, and they did extend the lead to two at 11:58 off a big one-timer from the high slot by Cameron Mercer. His third of the year was assisted by Martin and Roman Schmidt.

Then Danny Zhilkin skated up the left side of Flint's zone one-on-one with a defender in two. He tried a deke between his skates, but instead slid the puck into his own skate causing it to slip free toward the slot. He regained possession on his backhand and spun 180 degrees as he lifted it over Day's left pad. Zhilkin's 29th of the season was assisted by Matthew Sop at 14:46.

The Firebirds showed no signs of slowing down, battling back and scoring again at 17:07. Simon Slavicek shot from the left point and it hit a defender in the slot. Lombardi grabbed the loose puck and lifted it over Costantini's right shoulder for his second goal of the night and 100th point of the season, with assists from both Slavicek and Matthew Jenken.

Still trailing by a pair late, Ted Dent called a timeout and pulled Day to the bench after the next faceoff was controlled by his Firebirds. It quickly paid off as Flint used the 6-on-5 manpower advantage to set up shop in the Rangers' zone and generate another late goal. Lombardi controlled at the right half wall and sent a pass to Ethan Hay on the near side of the Kitchener goal. Hay tried to feed Riley Piercey in the slot, but instead, the puck bounced off a defender's equipment and across the goal line. Jenken combined with Lombardi for the helpers on Hay's 17th of the year recorded at 19:01.

Day returned to his crease for the following faceoff but then skated back to the bench with his club still down by one. The Birds set up shop again, and Braeden Kressler shot from the center point. Costantini made the save, but the rebound was loose under him. Riley Piercey pounced and pushed it under the goaltender for his second of the night with 17 seconds remaining in regulation. Tyler Deline was credited with the second assist.

Regulation ended in a stunning 5-5 tie, with Flint holding a 51-38 edge in shots on net and a 44-22 advantage in draws. The Birds finished with one power-play goal on four attempts while holding the Blue Shirts scoreless on one chance.

Pinelli won the opening draw of the extra five-minute period, and the teams traded chances skating 3-on-3 through the first minute. Then Lombardi grabbed a loose puck at the left point and weaved around two defenders before flipping a short backhand pass to Hayes on the doorstep to Costantini's right. Kitcheners veteran netminder wasn't allowed to traverse the slot before Hayes deposited the game-winner at 1:05 of overtime.

Next Up: The season finale is in Flint on Saturday as they welcome the Owen Sound Attack on "Fan Appreciation Night!" as the Firebirds organization pays tribute to the best fans in the OHL with tons of giveaways, prizes, promotions and much MORE! Additionally, one lucky fan will be walking away with a 65-inch TV and a free playoff subscription for OHL Live on CHL TV.

Game 1 of the OHL Playoffs takes place at the Dow Event Center next Thursday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m. Firebirds playoff tickets go on sale tomorrow at Etix.com and at the Dort Financial Center Box Office at Noon ET.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2023


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