Greyhounds Win Barn Burner 8-7 over Firebirds in Shootout
Published on March 18, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release
Flint, Mich. - The visiting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeated the first-place Flint Firebirds in a shootout in a thrilling, high-scoring tilt Friday night. Three new franchise records were established for the Firebirds, starting with the fastest goal to start a game in franchise history scored by Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) 10 seconds into the game. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) also scored his 40th goal of the season, which is a new record high for any player. Rookie Gavin Hayes scored twice and added four assists, increasing the previous record for points in a single game by a rookie from four to six. Hayes was named the 'First Star' of the game. Tag Bertuzzi also scored twice, and now has three consecutive two-goal games. Between the pipes, all four netminders saw action in the contest. Ian Michelone made 33 saves on 39 shots in his ninth OHL appearance before Nathaniel Day relieved him and stopped 12 of 13 in his seventh OHL contest. For the Hounds, Samuel Ivanov made nine saves on 13 shots before veteran Tucker Tynan stepped in and turned aside 24 of 27 to pick up his 18th victory of the season.
The Firebirds set a new franchise record for the fastest goal to start a game, needing only 10 seconds to find twine. After dumping the puck into the offensive zone, Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) was first on the scene in the left-wing corner. He hit Ethan Keppen in the slot for the quick one-timer, resulting in his 16th of the season.
The Greyhounds fought back and tied the game 37 seconds later. The Birds tried to clear the puck from the defensive corner, but the errant pass went directly to Ryan O'Rourke (Minnesota Wild) atop the left-wing circle. O'Rourke one-timed the vacant pass and lit the lamp with his eighth of the campaign, tying the game at one just 47 seconds in.
Just north of one minute later, Amadeus Lombardi backhanded the puck from the end boards into traffic in the slot. The puck deflected off a skate, and Gavin Hayes wasted no time roofing it over Ivanov's left shoulder. Hayes' 15th of the season, recorded at 1:53 of the opening frame, was assisted by Lombardi and Samuel Assinewai.
Exactly two minutes later, the Hounds tied the game again. Owen Allard skated out from behind Flint's cage to the bottom of the right-wing circle. From there, he turned and sniped a wide-angle shot that deflected off a skate in the slot and under Michelone's outstretched right pad. Allard's 11th was assisted by Kalvyn Watson and O'Rourke, logged at 3:53.
The game remained knotted at a pair until just under three minutes remaining in the first. Rory Kerins (Calgary Flames) launched a shot on net from the right circle and a Flint defender attempted to knock the puck out of midair. The result, however, was a bouncing puck in the slot that was batted in low, blocker-side by Watson for his 11th. Kerins and Jack Thompson (Tampa Bay Lightning) assisted on the marker, scored at 17:14.
The Greyhounds first lead of the night held into the first intermission. The Birds were outshot 16-9 but dominated in the faceoff circles 17-8. The Soo skated all 20 minutes without a power-play opportunity while Flint went 0-for-2 with the man-advantage.
The second period started much like the first, with Sault Ste. Marie extending the lead at the 1:20 mark. Watson made a crisp cross-ice pass from the left-wing half boards to Calisti at the right faceoff dot. Calisti completed the tic-tac-goal with a quick one-time pass to Bryce McConnell-Barker behind Michelone to complete the back-door play for his 18th.
From there, the Firebirds went on to score three unanswered goals over the remainder of the middle stanza. First, Gavin Hayes carried across center ice and flipped the puck to Lombardi in front of the player's benches. Lombardi crossed the blue and completed the give-and-go play back to Hayes as he burst between two defenders. Carrying left to right across the slot, Hayes faked far-side before pulling it back and finding the five-hole for his second of the night, assisted by and Assinewai at 3:06.
Next, Othmann sniped a wide-angle shot from below the left circle that tickled the twine over Ivanov's right shoulder at 7:06. The goal was Othmann's 40th of the season, assisted by Hayes and Luca D'Amato. Veteran netminder Tucker Tynan replaced Ivanov immediately following Flint's fourth goal. Finally, at 16:14 of the second, Dmitry Kuzmin scored the game's first power-play tally off a slaphshot from high between the circles for his 13th of the campaign, with helpers from Hayes and Piercey.
The second period ended with the Firebirds holding onto a 5-4 lead. Shots in the middle frame favored the Hounds 19-12. Flint held the edge in faceoffs through 40 minutes 25-17. Once again, Sault Ste. Marie skated without a man-up opportunity while the Birds scored on their lone power play.
The Greyhounds scored two quick goals in the fourth minute of the third period to reclaim a lead of 6-5. First, McConnell-Barker netted his second of the evening from the top of the left circle through traffic at 3:06, assisted by Watson and Cole MacKay. Next, Rory Kerins scored on a breakaway low, blocker-side for his 36th of the season at 3:40 assisted by Calisti. Nathaniel Day relieved Michelone between pipes after Kerins' goal.
Tag Bertuzzi scored two consecutive power-play goals to once again put the Firebirds in the lead. At 6:14 he deflected a slap-pass from Hayes in front of Tynan for his 18th of the season to tie the score at six. Othmann picked up the second assist. Then, at 14:50 and again with the man-advantage, Bertuzzi shot from Tynan's right. The puck crossed in front of the Soo's goaltender but deflected off a defenseman on the far side and slipped just inside the right post. Hayes and Piercey were credited with the helpers.
With a late power play Greyhounds pulled Tynan to skate with a 6-on-4 advantage. It paid off, at 18:24 when a shot from the left circle by Kerins was tipped in front by Justin Coutier, resulting in his seventh of the season. Watson had the second assist on the final goal of regulation.
The game headed to overtime tied 7-7. The Greyhounds outshot Flint 13-12 in the third period for a 60-minute edge of 48-33. The Firebirds outdrew the Soo 36-30 through regulation. On the power play, Flint finished 3-of-5 and Sault Ste. Marie ended at 1-for-2. Neither team lit the lamp in the five-minute three-on-three overtime period, although the Birds outshot the Hounds 7-4.
In the shootout, MacKay and Tye Kartye (Seattle Kraken) each struck paydirt in rounds two and three to seal the victory for the visitors.
Next Up: The Firebirds are right back in action on home ice Saturday when they host the Windsor Spitfires. Saturday's game is Whaley's Super Hero Night, sponsored by Shea Automotive Group. The Firebirds will be wearing special Spider-Man-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off post-game with all the proceeds set to benefit Whaley Children's Center by Tim Narhi Auctioneer & Associates, LLC. Fans can bring a minimum of 3 hygiene products for a FREE ticket to Saturday's game! Items being collected are Conditioner, Body Wash, Cocoa Butter Lotion, African American Hair Care Products, and any/all Hypoallergenic Hygiene Items for Sensitive Skin. All donations will benefit the Whaley Children's Center and the collection takes place at the Box Office, during normal business hours. Additional tickets are available for purchase at Etix.com.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2022
- Knights Top Line Combines for 11 Points in 8-5 Loss to London - Saginaw Spirit
- Greyhounds Win Barn Burner 8-7 over Firebirds in Shootout - Flint Firebirds
- Rangers Top Otters 4-3 - Kitchener Rangers
- Hoffmann's Late Shorthanded Goal Not Enough in 4-3 Loss at Kitchener - Erie Otters
- Costantini Marvellous in Bulldogs 3-1 Victory - Brantford Bulldogs
- First-Place Firebirds Host Greyhounds in Big-Time Division Showdown Friday - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Travel to London Friday Night - Saginaw Spirit
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