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OHL Flint Firebirds

Teddy Bears Tossed Early in Flint, Firebirds Dominate Sting 10-0

November 26, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Flint Firebirds News Release


Flint, Mich. - The Firebirds scored four power-play goals against the Sting en route to a commanding ten-goal victory. Both Daks Klinkhammer and Reed Gee scored their first OHL goal in the contest, and defenseman Tyler Deline was named the game's 'First Star' for a four-point performance (1 G, 3 A). Defending the goals were a pair of NHL-signed netminders in Will Cranley (St. Louis Blues) for the Birds and Benjamin Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks) starting for the Sting. Nicholas Surzycia played the final 20 minutes in net for Sarnia. Cranley picked up his eighth victory and first shutout of the season with a 20-save performance.

The teddy bears were flying early, as the Birds lit the lamp only 1:33 into the opening frame. Tyler Deline corralled the puck in the left offensive corner and flung it toward the net. The puck made its way through traffic and off the back of the Gaudreau's equipment before tickling the twine behind him. Deline's fifth of the season was assisted by Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets).

On the latter half of a four-minute double minor taken by Sarnia, Zacharie Giroux won an offensive-zone faceoff back to his defense. Deline and Luca D'Amato passed across the points before feeding Giroux between the circles for a quick snapshot low to the glove side. His seventh of the campaign was logged at 8:27 of the first period, giving Flint an early 2-0 lead.

After 20 minutes of play, the Firebirds had a hefty edge in shots 21-7 and faceoffs 15-7. Flint went 1-for-3 with the man advantage, but stayed out of the penalty box to prevent a Sarnia power-play opportunity.

The momentum switched sides to start the second period. Sarnia maintained possession and put a lot of pressure on Cranley and the defense. The Firebirds didn't register a shot on goal until 8:29 of the frame, which happened to also be goal number three for the home team. Gavin Hayes (Chicago Blackhawks) stickhandled around a defender and sniped a short-range shot from the inner edge of the left-wing circle that found the back of the net low to the glove side for his ninth of the season, assisted by Owen Pitters and Reed Gee.

From there, Amadeus Lombardi (Detroit Red Wings) scored back-to-back markers for Flint. He logged his 10th at even strength at the 12:02 mark off a couple of great passes from Tyler Deline and Dmitry Kuzmin. Then he was the recipient of a juicy rebound between the circles off a Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) shot at 17:37 on the power play. Zacharie Giroux picked up the second helper on the Birds' fifth tally.

Flint would net two more power-play markers in the final two minutes of period two. Simon Slavicek received a point-to-point pass from Deline at the left wall, and carried to the top of the near circle before wristing the puck far-side for his fourth of the season at 18:12, assisted by Deline and Kaden Pitre. Finally, Ethan Hay potted his sixth of the year at 19:19 with assists from Alex Bradshaw and Tristan Bertucci.

Second-period shots were 11-8 to Flint's advantage, but faceoffs ended in Sarnia's favor 11-6. The Birds scored three power-play goals during one five-minute penalty by Sarnia and held the Sting scoreless in one chance.

Nicholas Surzycia started in goal for the Sting to begin the third period. It didn't take long for Flint to put him to the test. At 2:59, Slavicek received a backhand pass from Kressler across the slot and deposited it far-side for his second of the night, assisted by both Kressler and Bertucci. Then Daks Klinkhammer scored his first career OHL goal on a similar feed in the slot, this time from Lombardi. Klinkhammer one-timed the pass low to the glove side from between the hash marks at 3:24, assisted by Kressler and D'Amato.

At 6:59, Slavicek fed Reed Gee from behind the Sarnia net for a power-play one-timer, Gee's first of the season. Slavicek and Bradshaw combined for the assists on Flint's tenth goal, setting a new franchise record for most goals scored in one game at home (10), most power-play goals in a home game (5), and fastest time to score five goals by the Firebirds at 8:47.

Final shots ended at 46-20 and faceoffs went 32-27, both to the Firebirds' advantage. On special teams, Flint scored five power-play goals on six chances while holding Sarnia off the scoreboard in one chance.

Next Up: After tonight's game, the Firebirds will embark on their longest road trip of the season so far, beginning with a Thursday night tilt in Peterborough versus the Petes. They'll also make stops in Ottawa, Kingston, and then Sarnia for game one of a home-and-and-away series with the Sting on Friday. Flint's next home game will be against Sarnia again on Saturday, December 10.

Check out the Flint Firebirds Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2022


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