Kevin He Scores Goal Number 20, IceDogs Fall To Firebirds
NIAGARA, ON – Kevin He scored his 20th goal of the season and Ethan Czata continues to impress, scoring his 5th goal of the season. The IceDogs would ultimately fall to the Firebirds after a hard fought 60 minutes.
Final Score: FLNT 5 – NIA 2
Starting Goaltenders: Nathan Day (Flint) – Owen Flores (Niagara)
For the second straight game the IceDogs would find themselves in a scoreless contest following the opening period of play. Both goalies would turn away nine shots. The IceDogs would get a couple of looks on the powerplay but were unable to convert. Recently acquired defensemen and Welland, ON native, Callum Cheynowski would be making his IceDogs debut after sitting out last night’s contest.
The IceDogs would find a quick start in the second period as Kevin He picked up the puck on the hashmarks and fired it past Nathan Day to put the IceDogs into the lead. His 20th of the season would extend his team lead in goals. The Firebirds would have a quick response for Kevin He’s goal as Simon Slavicek evened things up just 79 seconds later. The IceDogs would continue to get good chances as a few solid saves from Nathan Day kept the game knotted up. The Firebirds would get a late one in the period to take the lead after an odd deflection squeaked past Flores. The goal would come with only 1:06 remaining in the period.
Ethan Czata would get the IceDogs going in the third period, evening the game up at two at 4:43 into the period. Czata would start the play on the breakout before making taking a pass from Mathieu Paris near the hashmarks where he then beat Day up top over the shoulder. Once again the Firebirds would jump right back into the lead only minutes later. Newly acquired Connor Clattenburg would bang home the goal. Flint would find two more goals late in the game as Kaden Pitre scored both to put the game away.
First Period Scoring Summary:
No scoring.
Shots: NIA 9 – FLNT 9
Second Period Scoring Summary:
1-0 (Niagara Goal): Kevin He (20)
1-1 (Flint Goal): Simon Slavicek (8), Assists: Tristan Bertucci (26), Oliver Peer (26)
2-1 (Flint Goal): Nathan Aspinall (12), Assist: Blame Smith (9)
Shots: NIA 23 – FLNT 23
Third Period Scoring Summary:
2-2 (Niagara Goal): Ethan Czata (5), Assists: Mathieu Paris (13), Ryan Roobroeck (14)
3-2 (Flint Goal): Connor Clattenburg (5), Assists: Oliver Peer (27), Matthew Jenken (10)
4-2 (Flint Goal): Kaden Pitre (9), Assists: Oliver Peer (28),
5-2 (Flint Goal): Kaden Pitre (10), Assists: Matthew Jenken (11)
Shots: FLNT 37 – NIA 32
Three Stars of the Game:
- Kaden Pitre (2 goals)
- Oliver Peer (3 assists)
- Ethan Czata (1 goal)
Full Game Box Score Here!