Flint Drops Home Opener to Niagara, 5-2

FLINT – The Firebirds returned to the Dort Financial Center for the first time this season against Niagara on Saturday night. Flint scored two quick goals in the second to tie the game but was held scoreless the rest of the way and fell 5-2.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Niagara broke the ice eight minutes into the game with Reyth Smith beating Mason Courville clean on a shot from the top of the slot. Former Firebirds defenseman Christian Colosimo recorded the primary assist on the goal. The IceDogs added a second goal in the final minute of the period when Ryerson Edgar capitalized on a breakaway, doubling the visitors’ lead.

In the second period, Flint pulled even with a pair of goals one minute apart. Martins Klaucans fed a perfect pass to Darian Anderson, who fired into an open net, getting Flint on the board. The Firebirds followed up with another goal from Lucas Nutting. His point shot deflected off a Niagara player before finding the back of the net.

Late in the period, Niagara took advantage of its first power play of the game to retake the lead. Chase Hull scored off a pass from Jared Langdon in front of the net as the IceDogs carried a 3-2 lead into the third.

In the final frame, Niagara held strong to keep Flint off the board. Goaltender Connor Haffner stopped all 13 shots in the last twenty minutes, including some key saves on the penalty kill.

Niagara sealed the victory with a second power play goal from Stepan Stejskal and a late empty net goal by Ivan Galiyanov to secure a 5-2 victory and hand Flint its first loss of the 2026-27 season.

With the loss, Flint dropped to 2-1-0-0 on the campaign, and the IceDogs moved to 2-2-0-0 on the year with the win.

 

POSTGAME NOTES:

Darian Anderson scored in his third consecutive game to start the year and is tied for the team lead with three…Lucas Nutting scored his first career OHL goal in the second period…Flint went 0 for 5 on the power play tonight and is 0 for 9 in its last two games.

 

UP NEXT:

Flint will host the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Dort Financial Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Photo: Natalie Shaver, OHL Images

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