Sports stats



OHL Flint Firebirds

Sarnia Stings Flint, 6-2

January 20, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


FLINT, Mich. - Nathan Aspinall scored his 13th goal of the season and Oliver Peer continued his hot streak with his fourth goal in five games as a member of the Firebirds, but the Sarnia Sting grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second period and went on the beat Flint, 6-2, on Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center.

Following a scoreless first period, the Sting struck for three goals in the second to take control. First, Carter Kostuch scooped the puck up in neutral ice and snuck past two defenders. He waited for Nathan Day to commit before pulling the puck to his backhand and roofing a shot past the goaltender's glove to put Sarnia on the board.

Three minutes later, Florida Panthers prospect Kai Schwindt passed from the right-wing half-boards up to Cooper Way at the near point. Way completed the give-and-go, returning the feed to Schwindt now at the bottom of the right circle. Schwindt's snapper through traffic went between Day's pads to make it 2-0 Sting.

Sarnia's third goal came when Tyson Doucette skated down the right wing to the middle of the right circle. He sent a snap shot that snuck in on the short side for his team-leading 15th goal, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Birds were finally able to solve Nick Surzycia five minutes later. Simon Slavicek gained the zone on the left and made a cross-ice pass to Coulson Pitre at the right point. Pitre flipped a pass ahead to the slot where Aspinall reached out and got his blade on it. He redirected the puck past Surzycia's left pad and Flint cut the lead to 3-1.

In the third, the Sting tied up an offensive draw and the puck was eventually poked to Daylon Moses between the circles. As a two-on-one developed, Moses opted to shoot, finding space over Day's left shoulder for the 4-1 edge.

The Birds would answer less than two minutes later. Tristan Bertucci carried the puck to the left wing corner and from below the goal line, fed a pass toward the front of the net. It caromed off the left skate of Peer slid underneath Surzycia's pads. Peer's goal was his fourth since joining the Firebirds and it pulled the Birds back within two.

Sarnia grabbed two more late in the third, however, first when Schwindt struck on the power play for his second of the game and then when Cooper Way sent a shot into an empty net, extending the lead to its 6-2 final.

Peer has now recorded a point in all five of his games as a Firebird and Nolan Dann had his point streak snapped at 12 games in the loss, which dropped the Firebirds to 17-23-2-1. Sarnia improved to 17-25-2-0 with its win and pulled itself within one point of Flint in the Western Conference Standings.

The Firebirds will return to action on Friday night in Mississauga for a matchup with the Steelheads. Puck drop at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2024


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