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Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Take Thrilling Shootout Win Against The Generals

October 29, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint Firebirds' Simon Slavicek celebrates win with teammates
Flint Firebirds' Simon Slavicek celebrates win with teammates
(Flint Firebirds)

Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds rallied from behind five times Saturday to eventually win in a shootout over the visiting Oshawa Generals. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) hit the milestone of 150 career points with an assist on Flint's first goal of the night and ended the night with three helpers in total being named the Second Star. Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season and now has nine points in only four games. Riley Piercey list the lamp twice and picked up an assist to get named the 'First Star.' Tyler Deline scored the eventual shootout goal that sealed the victory, earning 'Third Star' accolades. Between the pipes, Nathan Day made his fifth appearance of the season, picking up his second win with an 18-save performance. Carter Bickle got the nod in goal for Oshawa and posted 36 saves on 43 shots.

The Generals lit the lamp first at 4:16 of the first period. Ryan Gagnier floated a pass from the right corner to former Firebirds' forward Ty Petrou in the high slot for a quick one-timer. It was Petrou's first of the season, giving Oshawa an early lead at even strength.

The Firebirds only needed four minutes to generate some good offense of their own. Sophomore defender Tristan Bertucci thwarted a scoring opportunity for the Generals in front of the Flint net and won the battle along the boards behind Day. The puck sprung free to Othmann, who forwarded it to Amadeus Lombardi (Detroit Red Wings) as he broke out of the defensive end. Lombardi hit Coulson Pitre at the offensive blue line with only one defender to beat. Pitre deked around the rearguard, and lifted a wrister glove-side for his fourth of the campaign at 8:18. The assist for Othmann was his 150th career OHL point.

Less than a minute later, the Generals reclaimed their lead on a close-range rebound goal in front of Day. Jordyn Ertel had his initial shot partially deflected by a Flint defender from the inner edge of the right circle. Day dropped into the butterfly and made the save, by Ertel gathered his own rebound and buried it low to the glove side for his first of the campaign at 9:12, assisted by Luke Torrence and Brett Harrison (Boston Bruins).

At 15:50, Dylan Roobroeck passed across the circles to Lleyton Moore on the left side. Moore's one-timer appeared to be saved by Day, but as the goalie slid to the right, the puck trickled through his equipment in front of the open net. Cameron Butler tapped the rebound across the goal line for his fifth of the season.

Later in the opening frame, Braeden Kressler was involved in a battle for position in front of Bickle's crease. Bertucci received a pass from Simon Slavicek and tee'd up from the right point. Kressler deflected the shot past the netminder for his fifth of the campaign at 17:25, pulling the Birds within one.

The Firebirds outshot the Generals 15-12 in period one. Neither team took a penalty to test their opponent's special teams.

Flint tied the game at three per side at 1:56 of the middle stanza. Luca D'Amato won a defensive boards battle and got the puck ahead to Riley Piercey near his defensive blue line. Piercey banked a pass off the wall to Othmann in the neutral zone, and Flint's Captain returned the feed to Piercey after crossing into the O-zone. Piercey lifted a short wrister past Bickle for his sixth of the season.

Once again, the Generals took the lead back 4-3 with the game's first power-play marker at 7:57. Gagnier passed from behind Day's cage to Stuart Rolofs centered in the left-wing circle. The quick one-timer snuck just inside the far post for his fifth of the season, assisted by Gagnier and Luca Marrelli.

The Birds also once again had the answer and negated the goal with a power-play tally of their own. They had a two-man advantage for nearly a full minute, but the goal came a few seconds after the first of Oshawa's two penalties expired. Gavin Hayes (Chicago Blackhawks) passed across the high slot to Kressler in the left circle. The Maple Leafs' prospect dropped to one knee to get maximum flex on his stick for a hefty one-timer that found twine blocker side for his second of the night, tying the game at four at 13:14 of period two.

Flint finally claimed their first advantage on the scoreboard at 16:58 of the second. Riley Piercey muscled the puck past a pair of defenders in the right corner and sent a pass to Hayes while falling forward out of the scrum. Hayes was wound back and ready and scored in a similar fashion to Kressler's second goal of the night moments before. His one-timer struck paydirt for his seventh of the year, assisted by Piercey and Luca D'Amato.

Second-period shots ended in Flint's favor 14-3. On special teams, each club potted one on the power play. Flint had two man-advantage opportunities while the Generals finished 1-for-1.

The Gen's celebrated a goal in the sixth minute of the third period, but the on-ice officials waived it off and play continued. At the next stoppage of play, the review determined the puck had crossed the goal line off the back of Day. Harrison was credited with his third of the season at 5:25 to again tie the game at five.

Then Oshawa reclaimed the lead again on a quick fake at the side of the net. The initial shot from Butler at the right point was kicked aside by Day. The rebound was collected to the goalie's left by Harrison, and he faked a wraparound before tucking it nearside without ever skating behind the net. It was Harrison's second goal and third point of the night logged at 9:04 and assisted by Butler and Ben Danford.

As they'd done all night, the Firebirds battled right back and tied the game again at six. This time with a power play, Hayes fed Othmann across the circles. Othmann shot from the right-wing faceoff dot, and Bickle kicked aside with his right pad. The rebound found Hayes near the left faceoff dot for a speedy wrister that found the top shelf on the far side for his second of the night at 10:41, assisted by Othmann and Tyler Deline.

Flint wasn't content with another tie, though. At even strength 90 seconds later, Hayes skated behind the Oshawa net before sneaking a short backhand pass to Piercey at the bottom of the right circle. Piercey's one-timer found enough daylight between Bickle and the near post to log his second of the night, assisted by Hayes and D'Amato.

The game was tied at seven by the Generals with under three minutes remaining in regulation. This time Calum Ritchie sniped a short-range wrist shot low to the glove side for his sixth of the season at 17:11. The lone assist was credited to Rolofs.

The game remained knotted at seven, forcing a five-minute three-on-three overtime frame. The Birds outshot the Generals 3-1 over the five minutes, but neither team could get one past the netminders. Flint killed a penalty over the final 67 seconds, pushing the game into a shootout. In the third round, defenseman Tyler Deline shot short-side and won the game for the Firebirds.

Final shots ended at 43-25 to Flint's advantage. The Birds finished 2-for-3 with the power play and held Oshawa at 1-for-2.

Next Up: The Firebirds will host the Mississauga Steelheads tomorrow (Sunday) at the Dort Financial Center for their annual Trick-or-Treat at the Rink game. The contest is also another Family Sunday FUNday, Halloween style. Fans can get up to four FREE children's tickets (12 & under) with two paid adult tickets PLUS two pumpkins for only $36.00. The offer is only available at the Dort Financial Center Box Office and only while supplies last. Every fan in attendance is encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat around the rink. There will be a children's Halloween costume parade on the ice during the first intermission. There will also be a Family Costume Contest during the game, including great prizes for the top four winners. Fans can also bring a carved pumpkin to enter into a contest with four additional great prizes.

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Flint Firebirds' Simon Slavicek celebrates win with teammates
Flint Firebirds' Simon Slavicek celebrates win with teammates
   

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