Video: Henderson’s Overtime Goal Propels Flint to 3-2 Victory Over Saginaw on ‘Star Wars Night’
Flint, Mich. – Mathieu Henderson scored the game-winning-goal with eight seconds remaining in overtime to earn the Firebirds a 3-2 victory before 3,989 fans in attendance Friday night at the Dort Federal Event Center. Flint has won five of the last six games against the Saginaw Spirit and now have a 3-1 series lead in the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup.
- Video: CBS 5 WNEM TV Feature
Saginaw’s Hayden Hodgson started the scoring Friday night, 1:37 into the first period after he found twine on a rebound. Marcus Crawford fired a shot on net from the left point that was saved by Connor Hicks but the rebound landed in the crease where Hodgson found twine for the early lead.
Hakon Nilsen responded 14 seconds later for the Firebirds with his second goal of the season on a slap-shot from the right point. Evan Cormier tried to pass the puck to a Spirit forward on the left-wing boards but Dane Johnstone bodied a Saginaw forward allowing the puck to bounce to Nilsen at the right-point. Nilsen cranked a slap-shot on net that beat Evan Cormier (New Jersey Devils) five-hole to tie the game 1-1.
The Firebirds earned their first lead of the game after Kole Sherwood (Columbus Blue Jackets) scored his 14th goal of the season, tapping-in a one-timer backdoor. The puck deflected to Sherwood’s tape in the slot who fed a pass to Ryan Moore at the right wall. Moore backhand the puck to Dennis Busby at the point before Busby dished the puck to Sherwood backdoor who went skate-to-stick and buried to earn Flint a 2-1 lead.
Rookie Gianluca Fuoco tied the game for the Saginaw at the 13:54 mark of the second period after he scored his first OHL goal when he cleaned-up a rebound in-front of the net. Max Grondin deked around a Flint defender and into Firebirds’ territory. Grondin ripped a shot from the left circle that was saved by the left-pad of Hicks but Fuoco jammed the rebound in under Hicks’ pad to tie the score 2-2.
The two clubs remained tied after 60 minutes of play and needed overtime to determine a winner.
Henderson ended the game on a highlight-reel goal with eight seconds remaining after dancing around a defender and firing a backhand past Cormier. With 14 seconds remaining in overtime and the Firebirds opting to choose two defenseman for the last play, Everett Clark won the defensive-zone faceoff. Alex Peters then dished a pass off the left-wing boards to a streaking Henderson, who toe-dragged around the Saginaw defender for a highlight reel, short-side, top-shelf goal, lifting the Firebirds to a 3-2 victory over their rival.
Flint outshot Saginaw 39-24. The Firebirds were a perfect four-for-four on the penalty kill. Henderson earned first star honors after scoring the game-winning-goal in overtime. Moore picked-up the second star after tallying an assist and Nilsen collected the third star after scoring once. Hicks picked up the victory between-the-pipes after making 22 saves on 24 shots.
The Firebirds return back to action when they travel to Windsor to face-off against the Spitfires Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 1:05 p.m. at the WFCU Centre. Saturday’s contest against the Spitfires can be heard live on 1330 AM WTRX Sports Radio in Flint & Mid-Michigan and around the world online on the Sports Xtra 1330 Radio app here. Pregame coverage with Dominic Hennig will begin 35 minutes prior to puck drop at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, the game will be televised live in Windsor on channel 11 / 700 (HD) for Cogeco TV cable subscribers and throughout the province of Ontario on the OHL Action Pak on channel 438 for Rogers TV cable subscribers and channel 479 for Cogeco TV subscribers. (Broadcast Information). Fans can also watch the game live online at www.ohllive.com or on the OHL Live App.
Photo Credit: Alyssa Voelker
For media inquiries, contact:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
