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OHL Flint Firebirds

Rivalry Resumes on Thursday Night in Saginaw

December 14, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


SAGINAW, Mich. - The Firebirds enter Thursday night's game with four wins and one overtime loss in their past ten games, earning nine standings points in that span. The Spirit have won eight of ten for 16 points, including two wins over the Birds in that time. Now it's time for Game 6 of the eight-game Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup and Saginaw is one win away from claiming the coveted trophy for a fifth time. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Dow Event Center.

LAST TIME OUT: Nolan Dann scored his 50th OHL goal and both Braeden Kressler and Jeremy Martin lit the lamp but it wasn't enough as the Flint Firebirds were beaten by the Windsor Spitfires, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon at the WFCU Centre. Windsor's Oliver Peer picked up a natural hat trick and former Firebirds goaltender Ian Michelone made 47 saves to backstop Windsor to the win.

SERIES HISTORY: In the I-75 Divide Cup history, the Spirit have claimed the cup four times to the Firebirds three. Flint holds an all-time record of 27-36-1-3 versus Saginaw, and it has gone 14-19-0-0 in road games. So far this season, the Spirit have won four of five meetings. The Birds need a win to remain in contention for the cup.

SCOUTING THE SPIRIT: (17-9-0-1, 2nd West Division) -

Sophomore defender Zayne Parekh leads the spirit in both points and assists. He has 11 goals and 29 assists in 28 games, including six goals and four assists in five games against Flint.. He ranks fifth in the OHL total helpers, second in power-play assists, and eighth in total points. Matyas Sapovaliv, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect, is second with 12 goals and 24 assists. He is also on an eight-game point streak, having logged five goals and 14 assists in that span. Minnesota Wild prospect Hunter Haight sits third on the club with 35 total points (13 G, 22 A).

Goaltender Andrew Oke holds the league's third-best goals-against average at 2.77 along with a save percentage of .903. He's earned 11 wins across 17 appearances. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Nolan Lalonde has six wins in 17 appearances and sports a 3.70 GAA with a SV% of .856.

The Spirit rank first in the OHL on both the power play and the penalty kill this season. With the man advantage, Saginaw has scored on 34.8% of their chances. They're killing penalties at an 85.9% clip.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (13-13-2-1, 3rd West Division) -

Gavin Hayes, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, remains on top of the scoring race with 19 goals and 17 assists. He's tied for the ninth-most tallies in the OHL currently and is tied for sixth with seven power-play markers. Zacharie Giroux and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Kressler sit tied for second with 33 points apiece. Giroux has 14 goals and 19 assists whereas Kressler has lit the lamp 13 times and chipped in 20 helpers.

Nathan Day, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, has appeared in 24 games and earned 11 wins. He has a 3.90 goals-against average with a .865 save percentage. Jacob Brown is credited with two wins in seven appearances, and his GAA sits at 4.26 with an .857 SV%.

The Birds are clicking at the league's 16th-ranked power play, scoring on 15.8% of their opportunities. When shorthanded they're escaping unscathed 78.1% of the time which ranks 13th.

BROADCAST COVERAGE: This evening's game against the Saginaw Spirit 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. Brian Gardner will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network starting with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

All of the Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2023-24 season can be watched anywhere in the world online at https://watch.chl.ca/ohl.

COMING UP: The Firebirds are home for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday this weekend. First up are the Sudbury Wolves on Friday before the Sarnia Sting invade on Saturday. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available online from ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2023


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