Grzelewski, Vilardi Each Score in Exhibition Setback
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Saginaw, Mich – The Flint Firebirds and Saginaw Spirit rivalry officially commenced on Friday night as the two clubs squared off for the first time against each other in preseason action.
The Spirit scored back-to-back power-play goals 16 seconds apart early in the first period to top the Firebirds 4-2 in the first of nine meetings this season.
Saginaw’s Will Petschenig scored the first of the power-play goals at the 5:47 mark finding the back of the net after Mitchell Stephens fired the puck on net to give the Spirit a 1-0 lead.
16 seconds later, Connor Brown received a pass in the slot and fired the puck in the net glove side. The Spirit made it a three goal lead with 4:57 remaining in the opening frame when Kirill Maksimov found twine from the top of the right circle.
Flint’s Zach Grzelewski scored the first ever exhibition goal for the Flint Firebirds on a tic-tac-toe play 1:15 into the second period. Alex Peters found Will Bitten in the slot who fed Grzelewski back-door who capitalized putting the Firebirds on the board for the first time of the season.
The Spirit increased their lead to three goals after Tye Felhaber scored low glove slide from the top of the slot.
With 2:37 remaining in the second period, Nick Caamano found Francesco Vilardi from the nearside corner who buried from the low slot. Saginaw would hold onto the lead for a 4-2 preseason victory.
Flint’s Kyler Carter and Saginaw’s Chase Stewart were ejected 8:40 into the game for Fighting majors. Both Kyle Keyser and Zack Bowman split time in net in the initial preseason contest.
The Firebirds hit the road again this Sunday for an evening tilt against the Windsor Spitfires. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) Centre.
Standing room only tickets to the Flint Firebirds inaugural opening night game vs. the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday, Sept. 26 are available by visiting the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com or by calling (810) 744-0580. Great season seat locations, which include opening night, are still available by calling the box office or e-mailing Susana Wight at [email protected].
Photo Credit Rena Laverty/Flint Firebirds
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
