Flint Stumbles in Guelph, 5-3
Published on January 19, 2024 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
GUELPH, Ont. - Coulson Pitre scored twice and picked up an assist for a three-point night and Oliver Peer scored his third goal in four games since joining the Firebirds, but the Guelph Storm scored three times in the third period, powering them to a 5-3 win over Flint on Friday night at the Sleeman Centre.
The first period was a highlight reel for goaltenders on both ends of the ice, featuring Edmonton Oilers prospect Nathan Day and Guelph's first year netminder Damian Slavik. That lasted until the Storm went on a late power play and Brody Crane flipped the puck past two defenders as he gained the zone. He got through a swarm of defensemen and snapped a shot from the left hash marks that beat Day low on the glove side to make the score 1-0.
Guelph extended that lead in the second after Michael Buchinger broke up a two-on-one chance for the Firebirds and then started a breakout the other way. While trailing the play, he took a pass as he crossed the blue line and launched a cannon on net that went over Day's left shoulder, extending the Storm lead to 2-0.
Late in the second period with the Firebirds on a 5-on-3 power play, Nolan Dann fed Peer across the top of the circles from left to right. Peer cranked a one-timer that sailed through found netting to the far side on Slavik. Peer's 25th of the season and third as a Firebird cut the deficit to 2-1.
Just over three minutes into the final frame, the Birds mishandled a puck at the left point that Max Namestnikov scooped up, sending him off to the races all alone. He deked from his forehand to his backhand and dragged the puck around Day's outstretched pad and in, extending the Guelph lead back to two.
Later, Pitre won an offensive-zone faceoff in the left circle by tapping the puck between the skates of his opposition. He stepped around the Storm player and snapped the puck far side, hitting twine just below the glove of Slavik to cut the deficit to 3-2 with nine minutes to play in regulation.
Guelph answered late in the game though on Crane's his second of the night. He was fed by Jett Luchanko and got loose in the high slot, where he wristed a shot past Day to make the score 4-2.
Flint quickly answered with Pitre's second goal of the game. He went give-and-go with Dann as they gained the zone and flicked a wide-angle wrister from the outer edge of the right circle. Slavik got his blocker on it, but it trickled across the goal line to pull the Firebirds within one, 4-3.
Day was called to the bench with under 90 seconds remaining, but Braeden Bowman intercepted a pass in the attacking zone behind the net. He quickly tucked it home and gave the Storm a 5-3 advantage.
Dann finished with two assists and has now matched a Firebirds season-high with a 12-game point streak, Pitre recorded his fourth multi-goal game of the season and his 10th multi-point game of the year. Flint dropped to 17-22-2-1 in the loss while Guelph improved to 24-16-2-1.
The Birds return to home ice on Saturday to host the Sarnia Sting. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial Center.
Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com
Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2024
- Rangers Fall 4-2 In Front Of A Sold Out Aud - Kitchener Rangers
- Flint Stumbles in Guelph, 5-3 - Flint Firebirds
- Bloom Scores his First Back in Saginaw as Spirit Defeat 67's 4-2 - Saginaw Spirit
- McCallum Scores in Road Loss to Generals - Peterborough Petes
- Otters Strike Seven Times to Sweep Season Series with Sudbury for First Time Since 2019 - Erie Otters
- Get Ready to Get Retro with Renway & the Bulldogs - Brantford Bulldogs
- Rangers and Four Fathers Brewing Co. Release Limited Edition "New Wave" Beer - Kitchener Rangers
- Firebirds Roll into Guelph on Friday - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Battle 67's on NHL Network Friday Night - Saginaw Spirit
- Kitchener Begins Home-And-Home Series against London Friday at the Aud - Kitchener Rangers
- Spitfires Fall to the Soo, 6-2 - Windsor Spitfires
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