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OHL Flint Firebirds

Sarnia Stings Firebirds, 3-0

March 23, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - The Flint Firebirds controlled the game throughout and outshot the Sarnia Sting, 41-18, but they could not solve Sarnia goaltender Nick Surzycia and were shut out, 3-0, in front of a standing room only crowd of 4,339, on the final day of the regular season. Flint's loss cemented itself as the Western Conference's eighth seed in the OHL Playoffs.

In the first minute of the first period, Cooper Way took a stretch pass at center ice and charged into the attacking with Zach Filak to his left. Way held the puck until he was even with the hash marks and slipped a pass by the lone Flint defender to Filak on the back side. Filak guided the puck past the lunging Nathan Day and gave Sarnia an early, 1-0 lead.

That would be all the scoring in the first period and Flint entered the second trailing, 1-0, despite outshooting the Sting, 12-3. It took until the final minute of the second period for the Sting to extend their lead. Marko Sikic forced a turnover in the defensive zone, chipped the puck off the boards and raced after it. He got an edge on the Flint defense and while he was chased from behind, Sikic snapped a shot high past Day on the glove side, giving Sarnia a 2-0 Sarnia lead with just 17 seconds to play in the second.

With just over two minutes to play and the team still trailing 2-0, Flint called Nathan Day to the bench. Sarnia won a defensive zone faceoff to Filak who quickly launched it the length of the ice and into the empty cage to seal the 3-0 final score.

Surzycia made 41 saves on 41 shots as the Firebirds outshot the Sting, 41-18 in the loss. It was the largest margin they have outshot an opponent in a loss this season and the third time they have been shut out. Day made 15 saves on 17 shots in the loss.

The Firebirds concluded the regular season with a record of 30-33-4-1 and will be the eighth seed in the Western Conference for the postseason. Flint's opponent will either be the London Knights or the Saginaw Spirit, depending on the results of London and Saginaw games on Sunday afternoon. If Saginaw beats the Soo Greyhounds and London loses to the Guelph Storm in regulation, Saginaw would be the top seed. If London earns at least one point or Saginaw loses in regulation, overtime or a shootout.

Once Flint's opponent is determined the team will announce the postseason schedule and start date via flintfirebirds.com and its social media channels. Playoff tickets will go on sale on Tuesday via the Dort Financial Center box office and online at ETIX.com.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

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