Firebirds post 4-1 victory over Sarnia in front of standing-room-only crowd in Flint Saturday
Flint, Mich. – The Firebirds launched the second half of the OHL season with a home-ice victory over the visiting Sarnia Sting in front of a standing-room only crowd of more than 4,000 fans Saturday night. For Flint, Jack Wismer lit the lamp twice, Evgeniy Oksentyuk scored to extend his point streak to nine games (6G, 9A) and Brennan Othmann found twine to continue his red-hot rookie season. Between the pipes, Anthony Popovich made 41 saves on 42 shots en-route to his 13th win of the season and getting named the game’s ‘First Star.’ Riley McCourt was the ‘Third Star’ with two assists and Wismer received ‘Second Star’ honors.
Belarusian forward Evgeniy Oksentyuk scored the game’s first goal at 4:56. He received a short-range pass from Jake Durham inside the left-wing circle and sent a quick wrister just inside the near post for his 14th of the season. Durham and defenseman Riley McCourt combined for the assists.
The ‘Birds extended their lead to two at 12:58 of the opening frame. Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) made a wrap-around attempt from netminder Benjamin Gaudreau’s left, and the puck slid through the crease to line-mate Jack Wismer for the back-door play. The goal was Wismer’s seventh of the campaign, assisted by Keppen and Cody Morgan.
First-year forward Brennan Othmann scored his eighth of the season with just 1:13 remaining in the first. He carried the puck up the right side of the zone on a two-on-one with McCourt. Othmann faked the pass but opted to shoot, burying a wrister up high, near side. Emmet Pierce and Owen Lalonde picked up the helpers.
Shots-on-goal were heavily in Flint’s favor by a margin of 21 – 10 after one period of play. They also held the edge in the faceoff circle, winning 12 of 21 draws. The ‘Birds had the lone power-play opportunity through the first 20 minutes, but were unable to convert.
The second period remained scoreless until inside the final 10 minutes, when Wismer logged his second marker of the night shorthanded. Keppen carried across center ice with Wismer to his right on a two-on-one breakaway. Keppen passed to the Wiz as they crossed the circles, and Wismer sniped a wrister just inside the far post about a foot off the ice. Keppen and McCourt combined with the helpers.
Popovich made several highlight-reel saves in the middle frame, including a few during a five-on-three penalty kill. Sarnia finally found paydirt, however, off a rebound in the crease with 19 seconds remaining. Nolan Dillingham took the initial shot from the top of the left-wing circle, which Popovich initially stopped. The puck trickled out to the goalie’s right where Brayden Guy tipped it in for his eighth of season, assisted by Dillingham and Ty Voit.
Sarnia outshot the Firebirds 18 – 6 in the second period, giving them a 28 – 27 edge after 40 minutes of play. The visitors also won the majority of the second-period faceoffs, finishing with an 18 – 7 advantage. The Sting were unable to score with two power-play chances, and the ‘Birds were scoreless with one opportunity.
The Sting called Gaudreau to the bench for an extra attacker with over three minutes remaining in regulation. Keppen rang a shot of the post. Sarnia used their one timeout just past the two-minute mark, and Gaudreau remained on the bench. With just over 30 seconds on the game clock, a Sting player took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, forcing Gaudreau back between the pipes. The ‘Birds held on for the victory.
On special teams, Flint was unable to convert on four power-play chances, but the penalty-kill unit was perfect, killing off all six of the Firebirds’ penalties. Final shots on goal were 42 – 32 in favor of the Bee’s.
Next Home Game:
The Firebirds are back in action Sunday afternoon when they host the Windsor Spitfires. Puck drop is set for 2:00 p.m. (ET) at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center. Sunday’s game marks the third and final Firebirds’ Family “FUN”day of the season. Firebirds’ Sunday “FUN”day games feature up to two free kids’ tickets (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult ticket, as well as a post-game ‘skate with Firebirds players and autograph signing session after the game. Additionally, there will bounce houses prior to game in the Dort Federal Event Center lobby for the kids and all fans in attendance will receive a pair of thunderstix, compliments of Dort Federal Credit Union!
Single game tickets for all Firebirds games are $12 Bronze, $16 Silver, $20 Gold and $26 VIP seating (Seating Chart). All seats are reserved / assigned seating. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (810) 744-0580, in-person at the Dort Federal Event Center Box Office or online at ticketmaster.com here.
Photo Credit: Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds
For more information:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
