PREVIEW: Birds Host Otters With Playoff Seeding Implications on the Line
FLINT, Mich. — The Firebirds host the Erie Otters on Wednesday night in a crucial battle for playoff positioning. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Flint has clinched a playoff spot and currently sits in eighth place. The Birds are just one point out of seventh and trail the sixth-place Otters by only two points. Flint looks to gain two critical points in what could be a four-point swing for the sake of the final rankings. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Dort Financial on the final Buy One, Get One FREE Wednesday of the season.
HEATING UP: Flint’s win on Saturday was its fourth straight win on home ice and the fifth in its past six home games. The Firebirds are now 12-17-2-1 at the Dort Financial Center this season and were 8-17-2-1 on home ice prior to the four-game home winning streak. Their lone loss at home this month was by a single goal to the OHL’s first-place London Knights. Since then, they’ve defeated the second-ranked Saginaw Spirit as well as the Kingston Frontenacs, Soo Greyhounds and, most recently, the Windsor Spitfires in front of a standing-room-only crowd on Saturday. Flint has points in four straight, five of its past six and seven of the last nine games.
SERIES HISTORY: Wednesday is the fourth and final meeting between these clubs this season and is the second of two in Flint. Thus far, the Firebirds have three points in three games with a record of 1-1-0-1 against the Otters in the campaign. Erie won the first meeting of the season 4-3 in a shootout in Flint. Then the Birds went to Pennsylvania and evened the series with a 4-3 overtime victory. Most recently, the Otters won a lopsided tilt at Erie Insurance Arena 7-2 on January 13. Flint’s all-time record in the series stands at 20-11-2-3 and is 9-6-2-1 on home ice.
SCOUTING THE OTTERS: (30-28-5-2, 4th Midwest Division) –
Pano Fimis is atop the leaderboard for Erie with 72 points on the season, including a team-high 48 assists. Malcolm Spence is second with 62 points from 19 goals and 43 helpers. Sam Alfano sits third with 25 tallies and 31 assists. Carey Terrance is fourth in points (52) but has recorded the most goals (29).
Benjamin Gaudreau leads the Otters with 21 wins through 35 appearances this year, a 3.31 goals against average and .889 save percentage but he has not played since January 21. Ethan Fraser has seven appearances in the campaign, picking up three victories and posting a 3.11 GAA with a .909 SV%.
The Otters’ power play ranks 11th in the OHL, scoring at a 21.0% clip. When shorthanded, they’re stopping the opposition 74.6% of the time, which is good for 17th.
SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS: (30-30-4-1, 3rd West Division):
Oliver Peer’s 78 points are tops for Flint, as are his 36 goals and 42 assists. He rides a six-game point streak, scoring four times and assisting on five markers in that span. Nolan Dann holds second with 28 tallies and 35 markers for 63 points. Anaheim Ducks prospect Coulson Pitre sits third with 55 points from 27 goals and 28 assists.
Nathan Day has appeared in 52 games this season and earned 25 victories. He carries a 3.74 goals-against average and an .868 save percentage. Jacob Brown has five wins through 17 appearances and rides a 4.26 GAA and an .853 SV%.
Flint’s power play ranks 17th in the league with a conversion rate of 17.3%. Their penalty kill is successful 78.0% of the time ranking 13th.
ODDS AND ENDS: For the first time since Flint joined the OHL in 2015, all three American teams have qualified for the playoffs… Joining Peer on the list of active point streaks are Nathan Aspinall and Tristan Bertucci at four games each. Aspinall has two goals and four assists in that span, and Bertucci has two and two… Otters Head Coach Stan Butler earned his 800th career CHL coaching victory on Saturday… Nolan Dann leads all Firebirds with four points (1 G, 3 A) through three games against Erie.
PROMOTIONS: This evening’s contest is another Buy One, Get One Wednesday. Fans can purchase any ticket and get another ticket of equal or lesser value for FREE. It’s also the final double redemption option for season ticket holders to redeem any unused season membership tickets (at Dort Financial Center Box Office only).
BROADCAST COVERAGE: Wednesday’s game against the Erie Otters can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com, or by downloading the US 103 app. Brian Gardner will call the play-by-play action on the Firebirds Hockey Network starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.
All of the Flint Firebirds home and away games throughout the 2023-24 season can be watched anywhere in the world online at https://watch.chl.ca/ohl.
COMING UP: The Birds will face the Greyhounds at GFL Memorial Gardens Friday evening before returning home to host the Sarnia Sting for the final home game of the regular season this Saturday. The game on Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Dover Doors! The Firebirds want to thank fans for their support all season long! The first 2,000 fans will get a tote bag, courtesy of Dover Doors, and there will be more giveaways plus a postgame live auction of our warmup jerseys! It’s also overager night when we’ll recognize the three players appearing in their final regular season OHL game: Roberto Mancini, Oliver Peer, and Nolan Dann. Saturday’s puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available now from ETIX.com HERE.
Story: Brandon Mills // flintfirebirds.com