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Flint Firebirds

Preview: Firebirds Wrap-Up Three Game Roadtrip in Barrie Saturday

February 10, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Barrie, Ont. - The Flint Firebirds complete their three-game road trip with the final stop in Barrie Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. (ET) at the Barrie Molson Centre (capacity 4,195).

Flint Firebirds (16-31-3-2) at Barrie Colts (30-19-2-1)

Date | Time Saturday, Feb. 10 | 7:30 p.m.

Location Barrie, Ont. | Barrie Molson Centre (capacity 4,195)

Tickets Online | (888) 655-9090

TV - Rogers TV ch. 10/510 HD (Barrie)

- OHL Action Pak: Rogers TV 453 & Cogeco TV 472 Live (Ontario)

- Complete Broadcast Coverage

Video Stream OHL Live

Radio WQUS 103.1 FM (Flint & Mid-Michigan) | Pregame Show: 7:00p

Radio (Mobile) US 103 App: Android | iPhone/iPad

Next Home Game Wednesday, Feb. 14 (Carload Night)

Social Media @FlintFirebirds | Facebook | Instagram

Saturday marks the first of two meetings against the Colts this season and the only battle in Barrie. In both contests last season, Flint trailed by one in the waning minutes of play. Barrie won both by two, adding an empty-net tally near the end of regulation. The Firebirds are still looking for their first win against the Colts since their inception into the OHL at the start of the 2015-16 season.

The Colts have won three of their past five games and six of their past 10. Barrie is leading the Central Division with a 30-19-2-1 season record and are second in the 10-team Eastern Conference. On home ice, the Colts have a record of 16-8-0-1.

The Firebirds have made a surge of late, earning points in three of their last five games. For the season, Flint holds a record of 16-31-3-2 and sits fifth in the West Division. They rank 10th in the Western Conference, just two points behind the Erie Otters. On the road this season, the Firebirds have a record of 4-18-2-2.

On special teams, the Firebirds held the Colts scoreless in four chances with the man-advantage the last time they met. This season, the power-play has been very consistent, scoring goals in 15 of their last 18 games, including one goal with the man-advantage in last night's game in Sudbury. Flint is clicking at 17.5% overall, ranking them 16th in the 20-team OHL. On the penalty-kill the Firebirds were successful in their last two games, killing off nine of 11 chances. They are now 75.1% overall shorthanded, ranking 18th in the league. For the Colts, their power-play is ranked 10th with a 20.6% successful rate. Barrie's penalty-kill is ranked 11th in the OHL at 79.4%.

Players to Watch:

Flint Firebirds (16-31-3-2, 5th West Division):

C.J. Clarke has scored goals in back-to-back games to start this three-game road swing. Clarke has 21 points (11G, 10A) in 50 games this season. Maurizio Colella leads the Firebirds with 47 points in 51 games this season. With his assist last night, Colella has now earned six points in the past four games and is riding a four-game point-streak. Ty Dellandrea leads the team with 22 goals on the season. He is second on the Firebirds' roster with 46 points in 51 games. Dellandrea is in the midst of a seven-game point-streak (5G, 6A) and has recorded multi-point nights in six of his last 10 games. Connor Roberts ranks third with 26 points (14G, 12A) in 50 games.

Firebirds' captain Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) leads all defenseman with 24 points (8G, 16A) in 30 games. Smereck had a three point night, including two goals Thursday in North Bay. Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs) is second among Firebirds' defense with 20 points this season, including an assist in last night's contest. Gordeev leads the team in PIM's with 92. Riley McCourt leads all rookies with 16 points, including a goal against Sudbury last night. Ethan Keppen leads all rookies with seven goals this season.

In net, Garrett Forrest has registered 11 wins for the Firebirds this season. He is the Firebirds all-time leader in wins with 24 and the team's all-time saves leader. Forrest has a 4.50 goals-against average (GAA) and a .870 save percentage (SAV%). In 20 games, rookie netminder Luke Cavallin has 3.94 goals-against average (GAA) and a .873 save percentage (SAV%).

NHL: The Firebirds have two players with NHL ties consisting of Jalen Smereck (Arizona Coyotes) and Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs). Additionally, Dennis Busby, Ty Dellandrea, Hunter Holmes, Ryan Littlejohn, Riley McCourt, Connor Roberts and Jack Wismer are seven first-time eligible players to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft in June 2018.

Barrie Colts (30-19-2-1, 1st Central Division):

Andrei Svechnikov is currently rated as the number-one player among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's "Players to Watch" list for the upcoming NHL Draft in June. He is on a 10-game point-streak and has recorded multi-point games in 9 of the last 10 games.

The Colts are led by Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa Senators) with 40 goals and 42 assists for 82 points in 52 games played. He is also riding a 10-game point-streak, having earned six goals and 13 assists in that time. Luchuk has recorded 24 multi-point games this season. Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota Wild) ranks second on the squad with 60 points in 48 games played. His nine-game point streak was snapped last night in Mississauga. Third in points for the Colts is Lucas Chiodo with 49 points in 52 games.

In net, former Ottawa 67's netminder Leo Lazarev is now with Barrie and has appeared in 40 games this season. He has recorded a 3.17 goals-against average which is ninth-best in theOHL and a save percentage of .900. He has backstopped the Colts to 23 wins, including three shutouts. Rookie goaltender Kai Edmonds has six wins in 13 appearances this season. His GAA is 3.44 and his SAV% is .880 for the season.

NHL: Barrie has two players with NHL ties, consisting of Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa Senators) and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota Wild). Additionally, Andrei Svechnikov and Tyler Tucker are listed in the 2018 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings for the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft in June.

Notable Colts' alumni to play in the NHL include Dan Girardi, Martin Skoula, Alex Pietrangelo, T.J. Brodie, Mike Weber, Aaron Ekblad, Dalton Prout, Andreas Athanasiou, Brian Lashoff, and Dan LaCosta.

Broadcast Coverage:

Saturday evening's contest against the Barrie Colts can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid-Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com or by downloading the US 103 app here. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action on the Flint Firebirds Hockey Radio Network. Pregame coverage will begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop at 7:00 p.m.

The game will also be televised live in Barrie on channel 10 / 510 (HD) for Rogers TV cable subscribers. Additionally, the game will be televised live province-wide throughout Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 451 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 493 for Cogeco TV cable subscribers. OHL fans with cable television in Ontario can add the OHL Action Pak to their television plan to catch the Firebirds in action, home or away all season long. Along with Saturday's game, 65 of the Firebirds' 68 games throughout the 2017-18 season are also scheduled to be televised live across the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak.

All Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2017-18 season can be watched anywhere in the world online on www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live app. OHL Live is a league video streaming platform that delivers high quality live and on-demand coverage of all regular season and playoff games annually. The cost is $6.99 per game, $69.99 for Flint Firebirds away games only, $179.99 for all 68 home and away Firebirds games and $279.99 for all 1,360 OHL games throughout the 2017-18 season.

Next Home Game:

Spend your Valentine's Day with the Firebirds this Wednesday, Feb. 14 for 'Carload Night.' Sponsored by Black Rock Bar & Grill in Davison, 'Carload Night' allows fans to load up friends, co-workers and family members in one vehicle for a flat rate of $35. Cars, mini-vans, RVs, campers and buses are welcome! One price of $35, plus parking, for all vehicles translates into reserved silver level admission for all guests in the vehicle. The Firebirds remind all fans to be safe and responsible and make sure that everyone is buckled up inside the vehicle. Wednesday is also the Firebirds' "Boots for Kids" donation drive. Fans who donate a new pair of boots to the Firebirds' Merchandise Store will receive a complimentary sponsored silver level ticket. Additionally, it's "College Night," featuring $2 beers and hot dogs for all fans in attendance. All college students with valid identification will also receive $2 off admission.

Single game tickets for all Firebirds games are $12 / Bronze, $16 / Silver, $20 / Gold and $26 / VIP seating (Seating Chart). All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (810) 744-0580, in-person at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com.

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