Video: Firebirds Win Third-Straight at Home with 6-3 Victory over North Bay Friday
Flint, Mich. – Michal Steinocher recorded his first OHL goal, Nicholas Caamano notched his 100th-career OHL point and Connor Hicks was impressive between-the-pipes as the Flint Firebirds beat the North Bay Battalion 6-3 at the Dort Federal Event Center on Friday night. The win was Flint’s third-straight on home-ice and fifth-straight in Flint in regulation. The Firebirds are now 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games.
Maurizio Colella opened the scoring for the Firebirds 1:49 into the first period after he redirected a point-shot from Mathieu Henderson at the right circle. Colella’s shot deflected past former Firebirds’ goaltender Brent Moran glove-side for his 14th goal of the season, on the power-play.
The Firebirds doubled their lead after Everett Clark scored his 13th goal of the season on a penalty shot. Clark skated leisurely to the right-circle and fired a wrist-shot, blocker-side, to earn Flint a 2-0 lead.
Adam Thilander cut the deficit to one goal 1:01 later after he received a pass from Steve Harland at the left-circle and rifled the puck glove-side past Connor Hicks on the power-play.
Flint regained their two-goal lead 34 seconds later after Nicholas Caamano (Dallas Stars) collected a pass from Jake Durham at the right-circle. Caamano was stopped on his first attempt by the left-pillow of Moran, but he then corralled his own rebound and netted his 28th goal of the season. The Firebirds scored three goals on eight shots, leading 3-1 after the first period.
Michal Steinocher buried his first OHL goal 3:01 into the second period after he fired a slap-shot from the slot past the glove of Moran to increase Flint’s lead to 4-1. Moran was pulled after the goal, making 16 saves on 20 shots. Julian Sime replaced Moran.
North Bay got one back when Andy Baker scored his second goal of the season at the 14:20 mark of the second period after Mark Shoemaker’s (San Jose Sharks) shot banked off Baker’s back and past Hicks to bring the game within two goals.
Durham increased Flint’s lead to three goals 1:55 later by backhanding a shot from behind-the-net that slid through Sime’s legs and caromed into the net for his eighth goal of the season. The Firebirds led 5-2 after 40 minutes of play.
Kyle Potts made it a two-goal game again for the Battalion after he rifled a wrist-shot from the high-slot that took a rare bounce off Hicks’ blocker and into the net with 16:16 remaining in the game.
Durham sealed the contest for the Firebirds with 47 seconds left when he scored his second of the night on an empty North Bay net. The Firebirds earned their third consecutive victory on home-ice, improved to
The Firebirds outshot North Bay 38-34. Flint was a perfect one-for-one on the power-play and three-for-four on the penalty kill. Caamano collected first star honors after scoring once and tallying two assists. Durham earned the second star after racking-up three points and Clark got the third star after posting two points. Hicks made 31 saves on 34 shots.
Next Home Game:
The Flint Firebirds are on home-ice tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. the Sarnia Sting. The Firebirds are teaming up with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the United Way for a fundraising night, featuring auction items on the arena concourse and 50-50 raffle’s throughout the game.
Single game tickets for the Flint Firebirds 2016-17 season are $12 for Bronze, $15 for Silver, $19 for Gold and $25 for VIP seating. All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Parking has been reduced to $5 dollars which is new this season. Fans can purchase tickets at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online by clicking ticketmaster.com.
Photo Credit: Amanda Ray / Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
