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OHL Flint Firebirds

Piercey's Late Goal Helps Firebirds Defeat Rangers 5-4

January 7, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds once again jumped out to an early lead and watched it slip away. Despite trailing 3-1 near the midway point of the game, they stayed on their game plan and chipped away at the deficit to eventually win by one on home ice. Gavin Hayes celebrated his 100th career game by scoring twice, including the eventual game-winning tally. Will Cranley made 17 saves on 21 shots to pick up his 13th victory of the season. Marco Costantini got the nod in goal for the Rangers and posted a 32-save performance.

Both teams scored on their first shot on goal of the night, and both on unusual chances from point-blank range. First, Gavin Hayes scored the game's first just 14 seconds into his 100th career OHL game. A mishandled puck in the Kitchener zone just seconds after the opening faceoff resulted in Riley Piercey gaining possession at the right point. Gavin Hayes was left all alone in front of Costantini and wasting no time converting Piercey's pass into his 21st goal of the season by lifting the puck over the netminder's left pad.

The Rangers didn't need long to tie the contest. Filip Mesar carried into the zone on the right with Danny Zhilkin pacing to his left on a two-on-two rush. A Flint defender partially blocked Mesar's late pass below the circles, but it came to rest just out of Cranley's reach to the left of the cage. Zhilkin lifted it behind Cranley for his 14th of the campaign at 1:57.

At the 15-minute mark of the opening frame, the Firebirds had outshot the Rangers 10-3. The next goal, however, was another unusual tally by Kitchener. A Flint defender tried to clear a rebound out of harm's way from in front of Cranley, but the puck went directly to Hunter Brzustewicz at the top of the right-wing circle. He quickly put the puck back on net, catching Cranley and his defender off-guard. It struck twine to the blocker side for his third of the season at 16:55.

First-period shots ended 11-6 to Flint's advantage, and the Birds outdrew the Rangers 11-8 in the frame. The lone power-play chance went to the Firebirds, but they were unable to convert.

Kitchener went on an early power play in the middle frame, and Francesco Arcuri slipped a wrister past Cranley from the center of the right-wing circle at 2:26. His team-leading 25th of the season was assisted by Brzustewicz.

The Firebirds pulled within one before the midway point of the second. Dmitry Kuzmin sent a pass from the left circle through traffic that connected with Amadeus Lombardi in the slot. His one-timer found the back of the net through skates and the netminder's equipment for his club-leading 23rd at 9:09. Kuzmin and Zacharie Giroux combined for the helpers.

A late icing call against the Rangers put a faceoff to the right of Costantini. The Birds won it back to Artem Guryev on the right defense, and he sent it across to Tristan Bertucci at the left point. Bertucci wound and fired wide of the net to the left. The puck bounced off the end boards and back into the slot. Braeden Kressler was first on the loose puck and tapped it five-hole for his 17th of the season, tying the contest with 56 seconds to play.

Despite holding a 25-13 shot advantage through 40 minutes, the game was tied at three. Both units won 11 faceoffs in the frame. The visiting Rangers scored on their lone power-play chance in the middle stanza while the Firebirds when scoreless on two opportunities with the man advantage.

The Birds reclaimed the lead for the first time since the second minute of play at 12:47 of the third. Cranley fed his rearguard Tyler Deline from the trapezoid, and Deline's breakout pass to Ethan Hay started the rush up-ice. Hay carried into the offensive zone and shot from the left circle, which resulted in another save for Costantini. The rebound fell to the top of the crease and Riley Piercey swung at it backhand. The puck flipped up and over Costantini's left shoulder and in for his 12th of the season.

Still trailing 4-3 in the final two minutes, the Rangers called their goaltender to the bench for the extra attacker. It was Gavin Hayes, however, that capitalized on the empty net, giving Flint the 5-3 lead with 32 seconds left in regulation. Hayes' second of the night was assisted by Kressler and Piercey.

Kitchener's net remained empty, and with one second left on the game clock, they scored again with the extra attacker to seal the 5-4 final score. Shots ended at 37-20 for the Birds and they outdrew Kitchener 32-30 through 60 minutes. On special teams, the Rangers finished a perfect 2-for-2 while the Firebirds were scoreless on five chances.

Next Up: The Firebirds hit the road after tonight's game for a five-game road trip. First up is their third game in three days against last season's Western Conference Finals opponent in Windsor. Puck drop for tomorrow's game versus the Spitfires is set for 7:00 p.m. and fans can follow all the action live with broadcaster Jack Sznewajs on US 103.1 FM, either over the radio, online or by downloading the app. The Firebirds' next home game is Saturday, January 21 when they host the Saginaw Spirit for another installment of the I-75 Divide Cup, presented by Coors Light. Tickets for the January 21 home game are available now.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2023


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