Sports stats



OHL Flint Firebirds

Sapovaliv's Hat Trick Leaves Flint Trailing 2-0 in First-Round

March 31, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Firebirds were looking to bounce back from a tough 7-1 loss at the hands of the Spirit in game one on Friday night in Saginaw. Once again they scored the first goal of the contest, but then Saginaw netted four straight to claim the 2-0 series lead. Nolan Dann potted the lone marker for the Birds, while the Spirit were led by a hat trick from Matyas Sapovaliv. Rookie Nathan Day got the start for the second-consecutive night, turning aside 22 of the 25 shots he faced. The Spirit gave the start to the New York Islanders' prospect Tristan Lennox, who earned back-to-back victories with 16 saves.

The first period started more evenly played between these clubs than in Game 1. The time of possession, shots, and hits remained even at both ends of the ice. That was until the leading rookie scorer in the regular season Michael Misa emerged on an all-out breakaway on Nathan Day. He shot low glove from the slot and Day stopped it with a quick drop of the right pad. Moments later, Flint's aggressive forecheck resulted in a turnover behind the Spirit's net. The puck deflected off a stick along the end boards and ended up in front of Nolan Dann, who was crashing the net from the left side. Dann's one-timer found the five-hole for his first postseason tally at 8:24.

The Spirit punched back quickly, evening the score at 12:15. Dean Loukus fed Misa down low to the left of Day. He tried to turn and shoot but Day got the paddle on it to poke it out of his reach. Before Flint's rookie goaltender could get back to his feet, Matyas Sapovaliv tapped in from the far post for his first playoff goal.

Sapovaliv had another quality scoring chance with under five minutes remaining in period one with a breakaway, but Tristan Bertucci caught him from behind and tied him up to prevent the shot on Day. The officials awarded a penalty shot to Sapovaliv, but he backhanded it high over the crossbar from the right side of the slot.

Then the Spirit claimed their first lead of the night with 1:08 showing on the first-period clock, and with a Flint skater in the penalty box. Off an offensive-zone faceoff controlled by the home team, a series of quick passes led to a one-timer by Hunter Haight in the right circle. Day stopped it, but the rebound trickled out to his left into the skates of Sapovaliv. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect was quick to adjust and lift it into the net glove side for his second of the night, assisted by Haight and Loukus.

Through 20 minutes of play, the Birds trailed on the shot clock 9-7. The Spirit also had the edge in faceoffs 13-6 and scored on their lone power play of the frame. Flint finished scoreless on two opportunities with the man advantage.

Flint celebrated a goal that would have knotted the game at two 11 seconds into the second period. After a video replay, the Birds were determined to be offside on the play and the goal was disallowed. For the first time in the series thus far, a full 20 minutes were played without a change in the score. Shots in the second were nine from Saginaw and six from the Firebirds, while the slight edge in draws went to Spirit again 11-9. Flint was unable to convert on two power-play chances while holding the Spirit scoreless on one.

The third period felt more like the "Backyard Brawl" that was on display in the first period of Game 1, much to the delight of the fans from both sides of the battle. Neither side could put one past the netminders for more than 12 minutes until a turnover in the Firebirds' zone was turned into a 3-1 Saginaw lead. Hunter Haight gathered the loose puck and fired on Day from the right circle. The save was made, but Haight grabbed the loose puck and deposited it just inside the far post for his second of the playoffs at 12:41, unassisted.

As time was running out for Flint's comeback bid, Day was summoned to the bench near the 19-minute mark of the final frame. At the next whistle with 40 seconds remaining on the game clock, a timeout was used by the Firebirds. Sapovaliv grabbed a loose puck at center ice and muscled a shot past the defender in his path for his third of the night, sealing the 4-1 final.

Final shots were 26-17 and faceoffs finished 32-22, both to the Spirit's advantage. Both clubs had four power-play chances, with Saginaw scoring the lone tally on special teams.

Next Up: Games 3 and 4 of the opening round will be played at the Dort Financial Center on Monday and Wednesday. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET) and tickets for both nights are ON SALE NOW at ETIX.COM.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central