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OHL Flint Firebirds

Flint Drops Back-And-Forth Game to Sudbury, 6-4

December 15, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - Four Firebirds finished with at least two points, led by Braeden Kressler's two goals and Tristan Bertucci's trio of assists, but the visiting Sudbury Wolves struck twice in the third period and went on to beat Flint, 6-4, on Friday night at the Dort Financial Center.

Flint opened the scoring in the first period just over two minutes into the game. Coulson Pitre centered a pass for his younger brother Kaden from below the goal line. Kaden was tangled up at the right side of the goal crease but touched the puck back to the front of the net. Nolan Dann collected the loose change and tapped it in, putting the Firebirds on top, 1-0.

More than ten minutes later a two-on-one developed for the Wolves as Quentin Musty sped into the attacking zone. Musty opted to shoot from the right circle and snapped it high over Day's glove, evening the game at one.

The Firebirds took the lead back with a power play strike later in the first. Bertucci sent a pass through the seam to Kressler at the left point. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect wound back and one-timed a shot high on the glove side past Marcus Vandenberg to make it 2-1.

Sudbury tied the game one minute later with another power play goal. Nick DeAngelis snapped a pass to David Goyette at the bottom of the right circle. Goyette steered the pass toward the net and it trickled over the goal, tying the score at two.

The action picked up quickly in the second period, starting with the Firebirds getting an early power-play opportunity. Bertucci fed Kressler who skated to the high slot and flicked a wrist shot on net. It sailed high past Vandenberg and the score was 3-2.

It took just 17 seconds for Sudbury to tie it at three, however, as Day charged out of his net to play a loose puck. He got to it and slid a pass to the near wing that was intercepted by the trailing Kieron Walton. With Day stuck out of his net, Walton floated a wrist shot into the empty cage and it was 3-3.

Flint quickly grabbed the lead back with another power play goal. Bertucci cranked a slap shot from the point that Vandenberg stopped but the rebound sat loose in front of the net. Nathan Aspinall muscled his way to the puck and poked it home. His first career power play goal gave the Firebirds a 4-3 edge.

It took 25 seconds for the Wolves to knot the score a fourth time. The Firebirds turned the puck over and Sudbury snapped it to Musty in the attacking zone. He hit the trailing Goyette cutting toward the crease. Goyette put a backhand-to-forehand move on and beat Day, tying the game once again at four.

Sudbury claimed its first lead of the night eight minutes into the third while on another power play. Goyette made a no-look backhand pass across the slot to Evan Konyen who was cutting to the net. He slammed a one-timer home and the Wolves went ahead, 5-4.

Flint pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker and threatened with a flurry of chances but the Wolves cleared the puck out of their zone in the final minute. Nathan Villeneuve won a foot race to the loose puck and centered it for the trailing Konyen. He tucked it into the empty net, extending Sudbury's lead to the eventual 6-4 final.

Kressler had his third two-goal game of the season and Bertucci recorded a season-high three points in the loss. Flint dropped to 13-15-2-1 in the losing effort while the Wolves improved to 16-10-2-1.

The Firebirds will play their final game before the holiday break on Saturday night against the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

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