Firebirds Drop Home Opener to Niagara, 4-0
FLINT – The Flint Firebirds dropped their home opener at the Dort Financial Center on Saturday night, falling 4-0 to the Niagara IceDogs. Four different skaters scored for Niagara while overage goaltender Charlie Robertson stopped all 33 shots he faced to record the shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Niagara opened the scoring just shy of five minutes into the first period when Grayson Tiller netted his first goal of the season. He took a snap shot from above the left circle that ticked off the crossbar and bounced in to make it 1-0. Later in the frame, rookie forward Judd Knauft doubled the IceDogs’ lead with his first career OHL goal. Ryan Roobroeck carried the puck around the net and fed Knauft for a back door tap in that made the score, 2-0.
Flint had a chance to swing momentum in the second period when Niagara captain and Winnipeg Jets prospect Kevin He was awarded a penalty shot. Mason Vaccari denied the attempt to keep the Firebirds within two, but Flint was unable to capitalize on an ensuing string of power play chances, as they finished 0-for-3 in the middle frame.
The IceDogs extended their lead with just 14 seconds left in the second when He sped in on a breakaway and buried his first goal of the season to make it 3-0.
Early in the third, Niagara added insurance as Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Czata scored on a breakaway to push the lead to 4-0. That was more than enough support for Robertson, who turned aside every Firebirds chance to secure the shutout victory.
Niagara improved to 3-1-0-0 with the win, while Flint fell to 1-1-0-0 on the season.
POSTGAME NOTES:
Charlie Robertson earned his first shutout of the season and the fifth of his OHL career with 33 saves…Fenton, Mich. native Judd Knauft’s first-period tally was the first goal of his OHL career…Ryan Roobroeck extended his assist streak to three-straight games…Flint outshot Niagara 33-24.
UP NEXT:
The Firebirds are back in action Sunday afternoon when they visit the Sarnia Sting at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Photo: Todd Boone
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