OHL Flint Firebirds

Firebirds Watch Early Lead Slip, Surrender 4-3 Final to Sarnia

December 16, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds and Sting reunited in Flint for the second time in six days. Unlike last week when Sarnia shot out to the early 4-0 lead, the Firebirds went led 1-0 after one. Amadeus Lombardi continued his point streak, scoring two of Flint's three goals. Riley Piercey netted the other tally. Nathan Day got the nod in goal for the Birds, while it was Nicholas Surzycia again for Sarnia. Day posted 33 saves on 37 shots, while Surzycia picked up his seventh win of the year with a 31-save performance.

The red-hot Amadeus Lombardi extended his current point streak to eight games by potting the contest's first goal. Just beyond the midway point of the opening frame, he rocketed past two defenders up the right side of the neutral zone. Lombardi carried through the right circle and faked a short-side shot from the side of the slot. As Surzycia dropped to make the save, he held on and deposited the puck at ice level to the far side for his 20th of the season at 10:06. Defenders Tristan Bertucci and Dmitry Kuzmin assisted on the tally.

The Birds held the 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play. They held a slight edge in shots 12-11 and faceoffs 10-8. Both clubs went scoreless on three opportunities with the power play.

Riley Piercey extended Flint's lead to a pair at the 1:52 mark of period two. He carried through center ice and then between the circles, making moves around three defenders in the process. From short range, he roofed a backhander over Surzycia's right shoulder for his 11th of the year, unassisted.

At 9:07 Gavin Hayes ripped a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle that found the far low corner. Riley Piercey had an excellent position in the slot to screen the visiting netminder. Sarnia immediately challenged the goal in hopes of a goaltender interference ruling. After a lengthy review, the Sting won the challenge and the goal was negated.

Sarnia got on the scoreboard just beyond the midway point of the game off a juicy rebound. Christian Kyrou made the initial pass to fellow defender Nolan Dillingham above the left circle. Dillingham's slapper was saved by Day from atop the goal crease, but he kicked the rebound to the bottom of the left circle to a waiting Sasha Pastujov for the tap-in on the empty net. It was Pastujov's 20th of the season, logged at 10:42.

Sarnia would answer with two quick goals to tie and then claim their first lead of the night. First, it was Pastujov shooting once from between the circles, which Day turned aside to his left. Pastujov was first on the rebound and got a second shot from the bottom of the right circle. Day dove to make the second save. This time the rebound went to the opposite circle where Chandler Romeo lifted over the sprawling netminder for his first of the season at 15:01. Next, Christian Kyrou and Angus MacDonell emerged on a 2-on-0 break from the blue line. Kyrou carried up the left, passed to MacDonell across the top of the circles, then MacDonell completed the give-and-go with a late pass back to Kyrou for a late one-timer. It was Kyrou's tenth of the campaign, scored at 16:13.

The Firebirds fought back and tied the tilt at three on a give-and-go of their own. This time a turnover in the neutral zone resulted in Lombardi flying up the left side and into the Sting zone. He passed to Braeden Kressler on the right side, and Kressler returned the feed across the high slot. Lombardi faked the blocker-side shot and instead backhanded the puck into the top corner on the glove side for his second of the night at 17:46.

Second-period shots were 17-11 in Sarnia's favor. The Sting also won more faceoffs by an 18-9 edge. Sarnia had three power-play chances but the Firebirds' penalty kill kept them off the scoreboard. Flint went without a second-period opportunity with the man advantage.

The Sting were called for back-to-back minor penalties in the waning minutes of regulation. The Firebirds had 21 seconds of 5-on-3 power-play time. As the first player was released from the penalty box he skated to center ice and was fed a pass that led to an all-out breakaway. Day made the save and then was called to the bench for the extra skater for the remainder of the contest. Flint created several quality chances, some from point-blank range, but to no avail. Surzycia kept the door closed and the Sting skated away with the 4-3 win.

Sarnia outshot Flint 37-33 in the contest and outdrew the Birds 37-32. While special teams were tested often in the tilt, both teams ended scoreless on six power-play chances.

The third period was intense, to say the least. Both teams had moments of sustained pressure in their offensive zone and more body checks were made than in the first two periods combined. Sarnia finally broke the tie 12:57 into the frame on a deflection by Marcus Limpar-Lantz off an initial shot from Romeo at the left point. The second assist was credited to Marco Sikic.

The Sting were called for back-to-back minor penalties in the waning minutes of regulation. The Firebirds had 21 seconds of 5-on-3 power-play time. As the first player was released from the penalty box he skated to center ice and was fed a pass that led to an all-out breakaway. Day made the save and then was called to the bench for the extra skater for the remainder of the contest. Flint created several quality chances, some from point-blank range, but to no avail. Surzycia kept the door closed and the Sting skated away with the 4-3 win.

Sarnia outshot Flint 37-33 in the contest and outdrew the Birds 37-32. While special teams were tested often in the tilt, both teams ended scoreless on six power-play chances.

Next Up: The Firebirds travel to London, Ontario Saturday to battle the Knights, who lead the Midwest Division. The game is slated for a 4:00 p.m. (ET) opening faceoff and Jack Sznewajs has all the play-by-play action on US 103.1 FM starting with the pre-game show at 3:40 p.m. After Saturday's tilt, the organization begins a ten-day holiday break before playing their next home game on Wednesday, December 28. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will be in town and puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Financial Center.

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