Video: Four Firebirds Record Multi-Point Games in 5-2 Victory Over Windsor Saturday
Flint, Mich. – For the second time this season, the Firebirds posted a victory over the Windsor Spitfires on home ice. Four different Firebirds recorded multi-point games in a 5-2 triumph before a capacity crowd of 4,111 fans at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center Saturday night. Evan Morrison earn his first victory between-the-pipes, making 21 saves on 23 shots in his second of back-to-back starts. C.J. Clarke recorded two goals in the contest and Ty Dellandrea (Dallas Stars), Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Eric Uba also recorded two points. Second-year forward Ethan Keppen buried his 10th goal of the season in his 100th career OHL game. On special teams, Flint killed all five penalties with success. The Firebirds also scored one power-play goal on three chances and logged a short-handed marker.
Flint wasted no time putting on the offensive pressure. After controlling play in the Windsor zone, C.J. Clarke lit-the-lamp for his fifth of the season on a wide-angle shot from the bottom of the left-wing circle. His rising wrister snuck behind netminder Colton Incze’s right shoulder, just below the crossbar. The goal was Clarke’s fifth of the season, scored just 2:47 into the contest. Defenseman Riley McCourt and Eric Uba were credited with the helpers. At 7:43, Clarke was the recipient of a centering pass from Jacob Winterton in the left corner. Clarke dropped to a knee to one-time the back into the back of the net. Ryan Bangs earned the second assist on the tally.
Ethan Keppen extended the lead to three on the power play at 17:13. Vladislav Kolyachonok returned a pass to Fedor Gordeev (Toronto Maple Leafs) just inside the offensive blue line. From the right point, Gordeev wristed a high shot that was saved by Incze. Keppen was poised and ready for the chance in the slot, where he redirected the loose puck behind the netminder. First-period shots were 18-3 in Flint’s favor, and they outscored the visitors 3-0.
Curtis Douglas (Dallas Stars) put the Spitfires on the board 3:42 into the middle frame while shorthanded. Jean-Luc Foudy took the initial shot, which was waffle-boarded away by Morrison. The rebound found Douglas in the left circle for the redirection, earning him his team-leading 16th of the campaign. At 5:34, Windsor’s Will Cuylle scored his 12th on a wide-angle shot from the left side, assisted by Douglas. After 40 minutes of play, the Firebirds held the edge 3-2. Shots were 11-9 to the home team’s advantage in the middle 20 minutes.
Then, late in the third, Ty Dellandrea and Eric Uba were sprung free on a two-on-one short-handed breakaway following a breakout pass from Gordeev. Dellandrea dished the puck across the high slot, past the Windsor defender, where Uba wound up and blasted a shot past Incze for his 14th of the season at 15:52 of the third period. Jake Durham scored the final goal of the game with 2:00 left to play. Dellandrea passed the puck behind the Windsor net to Keppen, who fed Durham in the slot for a redirection through the five-hole. It was Durham’s team-leading 23rd of the season. Flint outshot the Spitfires by a total of 36-23.
Next up for Flint, the Firebirds will travel to Saginaw Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 5:30 p.m. (ET) at the Dow Event Center. The game can be heard live on the radio throughout Flint & Mid-Michigan on US 103.1 FM, online at www.us103.com or by downloading the US 103 app here. Dominic Hennig will call the play-by-play action with pre-game coverage beginning begin 30 minutes prior to puck drop at 5 p.m.
Next Home Game:
The Firebirds return to home ice on Wednesday, Jan. 2 when they face their in-state rivals the Saginaw Spirit for another Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup battle.
Wednesday begins the “Firebirds Fight Hunger” month. In partnership with the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan fans can bring in five non-perishable food items to the Firebirds’ merchandise store, The Birds Nest, at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center for a complimentary Silver Level ticket, courtesy of Dort Federal Credit Union, AMD Urgent Care, Captain’s Quarters Lounge, Little Caesars Pizza and Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) Flint.
The contest is also another ‘Winning Wednesday.’ The Firebirds offer amazing deals for all of their Wednesday home games: Featuring $2 Beers, $2 Hot Dogs, $2 Pop Corn, and…Every time the Firebirds win at home on a Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday home game.
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 Hockey Club
For more information:
Dominic Hennig
Director of Broadcasting & Communications
Flint Firebirds Hockey Club
[email protected]
(810) 519-9347
