Firebirds Score 7 in “Pink Out” Victory over Ottawa
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Flint, Mich – The Firebirds rallied for seven goals on Friday night in the inaugural “Pink Out” game at the Dort Federal Event Center, sending home more than 3,400 fans happy in the 7-4 victory over the Ottawa 67’s.
The Firebirds donned special pink ribbon jerseys on Friday evening in partnership with the McLaren Foundation to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer.
Flint would score first at 1:28 of the opening frame when the captain, Alex Peters rifled one on net from the left wing circle, giving the Firebirds an early lead.
Ottawa would tie the game at 8:43 when Jeremiah Addison scored from the slot. Sam Studnicka picked up the assist.
Detroit Red Wings’ prospect, Vili Saarijärvi scored his first goal in a Firebirds’ uniform at 11:40 of the first period with a laser from the left circle.
With momentum in tow, the Firebirds would earn a 3-1 lead, when Jacob Collins scored from the right circle, notching his first lamplighter of the season at 12:52.
With 5:39 left in the first period, Josh Wesley would also score his first of the season with a blast from the right-wing point, giving Flint a three-goal lead.
Late in the opening frame, Flint’s Will Bitten wheeled into the Ottawa zone and found Connor Chatham crashing the net who buried off the crossbar, sending the Firebirds to the locker room with a 5-1 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.
Picking up where the Firebirds left off in the first period, Francesco Vilardi would be the fifth Firebird to score their first goal of the season on a wrap-around tally at 1:22 of the second frame, making the score 6-1.
With 6:13 left in the second period, Ottawa would net their second of the night when de Haan would score five-hole to cut Flint’s lead to four goals.
Ottawa would then make it 6-3 when Middleton found the back of the net at 15:11 of the middle frame.
Just over four minutes into the third period, the 67’s would score their third straight when Sam Studnicka recorded his second point of the night, bringing the score within two goals.
The Firebirds seventh goal of the game would come with 4:11 remaining in regulation as Saarijärvi would score his second goal of the evening on a blast from the left circle, earning the city of Flint a 7-4 victory on the inaugural “Pink Out” night.
The Firebirds will return home to the Dort Federal Event Center for a Halloween matinée match-up on Saturday Oct. 31. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. against the Owen Sound Attack.
Tickets are $12 for bronze, $15 for silver and $19 for corporate/gold seating and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com here, by visiting the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or by phone at (810) 744-0580.
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
Photo Credit: Jennifer Howard / Flint Firebirds
