Firebirds' Three-Goal Third Period Not Enough in "Teddy Bear Toss" Defeat Saturday
December 12, 2017 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) - Flint Firebirds News Release
Flint, Mich. - Nicolas Mattinen (Toronto Maple Leafs) recorded two goals and an assist in a 6-4 defeat to the Niagara IceDogs, giving him eight points in the past seven games. C.J. Clarke scored his fourth of the season and Jack Wismer had a two-point night, picking up his first-career OHL goal and an assist. On special teams, Flint successfully killed off all four short-handed situations, including a full two-minute five-on-three penalty-kill. They added one power-play tally on seven tries in the contest.
It was a very competitive opening period for both teams. Flint led the game in shots on goal by a margin of 11-7 after 20 minutes of play. The score was tied at one, with Niagara's Danial Singer collecting his ninth goal of the season, extending his point-streak to five games. C.J. Clarke tied the game with his fourth of the season on a breakaway. Jacob Collins made a nice tape-to-tape pass to Clarke who buried blocker-side past Stephen Dhillon at 10:13 of the first period. Mattinen also picked up an assist on the "Teddy Bear Launching Goal." The stuffed animals were collected and will be donated to the Ennis Center for Children, Hurley Medical Center, Michigan State Police and the Whaley Children's Center.
Hamilton would score five goals in the middle period, including three goals in 1:18. Bradey Johnson scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season and added one helper in the period. Matthew Philip and Billy Constantinou each collected two points during the frame, with four other IceDogs contributing to the scoresheet. Niagara dominated the shots-on-goal category 18-8 in period number two. Despite trailing by five goals after two periods of play, Flint continued to battle until the final horn sounded, outshooting Niagara 12 - 8 in the last twenty minutes. The Firebirds scored three goals in the third period, starting with Jack Wismer's first of the season, unassisted. Wismer gloved-down a clearing attempt from the Niagara netminder and with patience, made a smart play to out-wait Dhillon before finding twine. Wismer would then collect his second point of the night, assisting on Mattinen's first goal of the night when Mattinen picked up a loose puck in front of the goal and backhanded it top-shelf.
Less than three minutes later, Mattinen recorded his second of the night on the power-play, with assists from Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) and Maurizio Colella.
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