Firebirds Fall to Kitchener in Home Opener, 8-0
FLINT, Mich. – The Kitchener Rangers found an extra gear and scored eight unanswered goals as they went on to be the Flint Firebirds, 8-0, on Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center. For the second time in as many nights, Nathan Day was given the start in the Firebirds net, and he posted 23 saves in the effort. Jackson Parsons also started his second of back-to-back games for Kitchener, earning his second victory of the season with a 28-save shutout.
The Birds brought the pressure early, holding the Rangers without a shot on goal for more than six minutes. On the other end of the ice, Parsons stayed busy with a flurry of shots and bodies in front to contend with. Kitchener’s first shot and quality scoring chance came on a breakaway by Luke Ellinas, but Day made a diving save to preserve the scoreless tie. During the opening 20 minutes, the Firebirds had three chances on the power play but were unable to convert. The penalty killers shut the Blue Shirts down on their lone try with the man advantage. First-period shots ended at 8-3 to Flint’s advantage but the scoreboard remained 0-0.
After tempers flared during a stopping 1:15 into the middle stanza, the officials sent a player from each side to the box. The Rangers won the next faceoff in their offensive zone and quickly brought the pressure. Ellinas attempted a wrap-around from Day’s left, which was stopped with the right pad. The rebound went to Mathaes Stark on the far side of the blue paint for the tap-in goal. The goal was Stark’s first in the OHL and it gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Before the end of the four-on-four play, Hunter Brzustewicz fed Carson Rehkopf all alone in the high slot. Rehkopf had time to settle the puck and launch a rising wrister that found twine over Day’s left shoulder. His first of the season gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
Kitchener would score twice more late in the second. First a shot from rearguard Matthew Andonovski at ice level slipped between the skates of a teammate screening Day’s field of vision at 16:21. Two minutes later Kyle Morey took a short-range pass from Antonino Pugliese to Day’s left and carried across the slot as he deposited the puck five-hole for his second marker at 18:22. Cameron Mercer was credited with the second helper.
Kitchener held on for a 4-0 lead through 40 minutes of play, outshooting the Birds 23-6 during the penalty-filled middle frame.
Overager Mitchell Martin chipped one in from short range early in the third to extend the visitor’s lead to five just 46 seconds into the third. Brzustewicz picked up his third assist on Martin’s second of the season. The Birds were awarded their second 4-minute power play of the night shortly thereafter, but the Rangers’ penalty killers got the job done once again. Misaljevic then found an empty net, followed by a late breakaway goal by Trent Swick put the Blue Shirts up 7-0. Finally, it was Misaljevic lighting the lamp for his second of the night.
Final shots favored the visitors from Kitchener 31-28. The Birds won more of the faceoffs by a 42-34 margin. On special teams the Rangers scored twice on three power plays while holding Flint scoreless in seven opportunities.
COMING UP: The Firebirds will look to settle the score with the Soo Greyhounds next Saturday at the Dort Financial Center. The game will be the annual Dort Financial Family Night, where Dort Financial Credit Union Members are eligible to receive up to 4 FREE silver level tickets, with proof of membership. The first 3,000 fans in the building will receive a FREE sublimated Flint Firebirds replica jersey, courtesy of Dort Financial Credit Union. Tickets are available online at ETIX.com or at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
