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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Surrender 6-1 Decision in Barrie

January 12, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Barrie, Ont. - For the first time since December 2019, the Firebirds faced the Barrie Colts at Sadlin Arena. The fresh lineup for Barrie got the upper hand, skating to a 6-1 victory. Dmitry Kuzmin scored the lone goal for the Birds, and Nolan Dann earned his first assist in his first game with the Firebirds. The Firebirds started Will Cranley in net, and he was tested often by the high-power Barrie offense, turning aside 46 shots. The Colts went with Anson Thornton between, who earned his 13th victory with 32 saves on 33 shots faced.

Barrie's game plan was clear from the get-go. With the newly beefed-up defensive unit, the forecheck was aggressive and space was at a premium on both ends of the ice for Flint. As a result, the Colts led 1-0 after the first period off Ethan Cardwell's 20th goal of the season. Brandt Clarke carried the puck up the right side of the zone and wrapped a pass back to the high slot from the bottom of the circle. Cardwell was crashing in on the play and one-timed the pass glove-side for the lone goal of the frame at 1:54. Clarke and Evan Vierling combined for the assists.

First-period shots were 14-10 to Barrie's advantage. Faceoffs also favored the Colts 12-9. The Birds went scoreless on the lone power play of the frame.

Barrie scored quickly in the second period to claim the 2-0 lead. Jacob Frasca carried up the left-wing side on a 3-on-1 chance. He looked to pass, but then snapped a high shot near side for his 16th of the campaign at 1:36. Artur Cholach was credited with the assist.

Almost four minutes later, Connor Punnett passed across the top of the zone to Beau Akey centered high between the circles. Akey wound and fired into traffic where it hit a defender and fell into the high slot. Tai York pounced on the loose puck and roofed it for his ninth at 4:28.

During four-on-four play a few minutes later, Beau Jelsma carried up the right on another two-on-one opportunity. He made the late pass across the top of the crease for a back-door one-timer from Braden Hache, who slipped it behind Cranley for his second of the season in his first game with Barrie. Tai York picked up the second helper on the tally, logged at 7:44.

The Firebirds appeared to get one back when a slapshot from Tyler Deline found twine through traffic on the power play. The play was reviewed, and the goal was disallowed after it was determined that Flint played the puck with a high stick in the neutral zone prior to scoring. The middle frame ended with the Birds trailing by four. They also trailed in second-period shots 17-8 but held the edge in draws 17-13 during period two. Flint went scoreless on their lone man advantage in the frame while keeping the OHL's top-ranked power-play unit on home ice scoreless with two chances.

The Birds finally put one on the scoreboard that stuck at 3:53 of the final frame. With Kressler screening Thornton in front, Dmitry Kuzin carried in from the right point while avoiding two pinching defensemen. He lifted the puck over the netminder's outstretched right pad for his ninth, assisted by Zacharie Giroux and Nolan Dann.

One minute after Flint's first marker of the contest a five-minute major was called against the Birds. The penalty-killers got the job done through the first three minutes, at which time the Colts were called for a minor to even manpower up at four per side for the final two minutes of the penalty.

After both clubs returned to full strength, Barrie would score two more quick tallies at even strength. First, a Beau Akey shot from the right point was tipped in front by Chris Grisolia for his sixth of the campaign at 10:48, assisted by Akey and Zach Wigle. Then Evan Vierling found twine against his former team at 13:09 off a rebound in the right circle. Punnett and Frasca combined for the assists on the play.

Final shots ended with Barrie on top 52-33, despite Flint outdrawing them 35-26. Flint's power play finished 0-for-2 but the penalty kill shut down the league's top unit on three chances.

Next Up: The Firebirds continue the current five-game road trip with the third stop in Sudbury on Friday. Flint's next home game is Saturday, January 21 when they host the Saginaw Spirit for another installment of the I-75 Divide Cup, presented by Coors Light.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2023


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