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OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Sweep 3-Game Series over Sting with Wild 8-3 Victory Saturday

February 26, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds rode their momentum to their fourth-straight victory, and now have points in 11 consecutive contests and 16 of their past 17. Riley Piercey led the offensive charge in front of more than 3,500 fans on 'Flint Generals Night' at the Dort Financial Center. He recorded his second career hat trick, was named the game's 'First Star,' and now has 100 points in his OHL career. Gavin Hayes scored twice and was named the game's 'Third Star,' and Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) ended with a goal and four assists for 'Second Star' accolades. Zacharie Giroux had three helpers in the tilt, as well. Between the pipes, Luke Cavallin played stellar, turning aside 28 of 31 shots faced. First-year forward Max Namestnikov topped the stats for Sarnia with a goal and an assist, and Anson Thornton (Arizona Coyotes) posted 27 saves for the visitors.

As their predecessors who occupied this building were best known for, the Firebirds brought a heavy physical presence to the game right from the opening faceoff. The hard work quickly paid off, as Flint was first to light the lamp while shorthanded. Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) deked around a defender in the neutral zone to create a two-on-one break with Ethan Hay. As he approached the left faceoff dot, Kuzmin saucered a pass over a diving defender right to the tape of Hay's stick. Hay lifted a backhander over Thornton's right shoulder at 8:22, his fifth of the season.

With six minutes to play in the first, Tag Bertuzzi gathered the puck behind the Sarnia net. He slipped a pass to Sahil Panwar in the right corner. Panwar quickly fed Gavin Hayes in the right circle, and the Westland, Mich. native sniped a wrister near-side for his 13th of the campaign, logged at 14:09.

Sarnia answered quickly, pulling back within one goal only 33 seconds later. Wolverine Lake, Mich. native Max Namestnikov found Alexis Daviault open in the right circle. Daviault wristed a shot toward Cavallin that redirected off a defenseman's equipment on the way to the cage and trickled just inside the far post for his third of the season.

Sarnia trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes of play. Shots in the opening frame were even at nine per side. Faceoffs favored the Firebirds by a margin of 10-7. The Sting had the only man-advantage opportunity in the first period but were unable to convert.

The Sting evened the score quickly in the second period, however, needing just 32 seconds. Nolan Dann thwarted a clearing attempt by the Birds at the right point and sent the puck along the boards to Ty Voit (Toronto Maple Leafs) behind the Flint goal. Voit faked a pass to the man in the crease, and instead sent the puck to the late man in, Boston Bruins' prospect Ryan Mast. Mast one-timed the pass past Cavallin blocker-side for his seventh of the season at even strength.

The next goal was scored just past the 12-minute mark of the middle stanza. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) fed Zacharie Giroux through the neutral zone, springing Giroux and Riley Piercey on a two-on-one. Giroux charged between the circles and slid the puck between the defender's skates to Piercey on his left. The veteran Piercey traversed the slot and sent the puck five-hole for his 23rd at 12:10, with the teams at even strength.

Flint held a 3-2 lead going into the second intermission. They outshot the Sting 13-9 in the middle frame and outdrew Sarnia 12-11. The Birds received a lone power-play chance but were unable to convert.

Once again, the Sting found paydirt early in the period to tie the score, this time at three. While on a power play, Chandler Romeo made a heads-up pass from deep in the right offensive corner to Namestnikov in the slot for a quick one-timer. It was Namestnikov's eighth of the season and second power-play marker, scored at 4:07. Josh Vogelsberg earned the second assist on the tally.

The Firebirds were quick to answer. Tyler Deline fired a heavy slapper that ended up just wide of the cage to Johnston's right. Othmann gathered the rebound and attempted to pass to his teammate in the slot. Instead, the puck deflected off a skate and went to the charging Riley Piercey between the circles. The ensuing one-timer lit the lamp for Piercey's 24th of the season and second of the night at 7:09.

The Birds scored again less than a minute later, again at even strength. This time a Sarnia defender held the puck behind his net, waiting for a play to develop. As soon as he skated toward the left corner, Othmann was there to harass him and eventually force a turnover with a well-timed poke check. Flint's Captain fed Giroux at the top of the right circle, and Giroux completed the tic-tac-goal with a quick pass to Gavin Hayes between the circles. Hayes' one-timer resulted in his second of the game and 14th of the campaign at 8:00.

Piercey then completed his hat trick and reached the century mark in career points on the power play with less than six minutes to go in the contest. Othmann took an initial shot, which Thornton blockered to his left. From below the goal line, Piercey captured the rebound and quickly sent the puck behind the netminder, just inside the far post at the 14:28 mark.

With under four minutes left in regulation, Simon Slavicek skated up the right-wing boards into the offensive zone with one defender in tow. When he got to the bottom of the left circle he lifted a leg and faked a hard shot. Thornton committed, and Slavicek held on to carry behind the cage and complete the wraparound for his fifth of the season at 16:23.

Only 20 seconds later, Tag Bertuzzi skated out from behind the Sarnia net and backhanded a pass to Othmann in the slot. Othmann one-timed the pass and slipped the puck under Thornton's blocker for goal number 35 on the year at 16:45. Panwar picked up the second helper, his second of the game.

Through the full 60 minutes, Flint outshot Sarnia 35-31. In the faceoff circles, however, the Bees outdrew the Birds 41-28. Both clubs scored one power-play goal, Flint in three chances and Sarnia in four.

Next Up: Sunday, February 27th will be Family 'FUN'day when the Firebirds host the Erie Otters. Additionally, it is our "Talk Today" game sponsored by Genesee Health Systems and there will be tables set up around the concourse from local agencies bringing awareness to Mental Health & the services offered. Also, face painters and balloon twisters will be available on the concourse during the game. All purchased adult tickets are eligible to have up to TWO FREE kids tickets. All tickets for Family 'FUN'day can be purchased on ETIX or at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2022


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