Triumph Returns
Brampton, ON- The Brampton Steelheads beat the Flint Firebirds 5-4 in overtime after Finn Harding snipes a beautiful backhand goal to secure the victory.
In a game that seemed to lean in the Firebirds’ favour, the Steelheads demonstrated the power of patience as they completed a successful battleback to win it in overtime. The Firebirds took the game’s lead on multiple occasions throughout the 60 minutes of play, yet a Brampton goal always matched it.
Vilmer Alriksson got the last goal in regulation to tie things up and send the game into overtime. Yet, Finn Harding secured the Steelhead’s first victory of the new year with a nice backhand goal.
It was the first of two matchups between the Steelheads and the Firebirds. After a close loss on New Year’s Day, Brampton aimed to shake things up and return to the winning column. The Trout entered the game with a boost as Porter Martone, Carson Rehkopf, Stevie Leskovar, Mason Zebeski, and Jack Ivankovic returned to the lineup.
The period started quiet, as the only action appeared to be the consistent back-and-forth between teams. However, this notion was short-lived, as Flint soon got the icebreaker, which kicked off a period of high tension, battlebacks, and special teams.
Evan Konyen got the game’s first goal. While Ivankovic made an impressive save to cover off Connor Clattenburg’s initial shot, Konyen was able to sneak behind the defence, pick up the rebound and put it into the back of the net.
Flint’s lead did not last long as Angus MacDonell continued his scoring streak and tied the game at one. Alriksson picked up the assist for the goal after he carried the puck out from behind the net and covered off the Flint defence out front. Seeing no one covering off the left side, Alriksson passed it over to the awaiting MacDonell, who sniped it into the open net.
Tension between teams reached its boiling point, sending the play to 4-on-4. With special teams in play, the Firebirds took advantage and set up in their zone. Getting the puck off Matthew Mania in the defensive end, Kaden Pitre went coast to coast, slipping around the Steelheads’ defence and getting it past Ivankovic on the blocker side.
Things got heated again late in the first following a hard check, leading to two game misconducts – one to Leskovar for a check to the head and one to Clattenburg for fighting- as well as a roughing penalty to Nolan Collins. With the game within one, the Steelheads knew this was their chance to capitalize on the man advantage and tie it up on the power play.
Luke Misa started the play on the equalizing goal as he made a cross-crease pass to Harding, who was waiting down low at the faceoff dot. Not wanting to get covered off by the Flint defence, Harding made a quick pass over to Rehkopf, who was parked out front, allowing him to get it past Nathan Day.
As the remaining minutes of the first ran out, the game remained tied at two, making it anyone’s game as the teams entered the next 20 minutes of play.
Despite the almost back-and-forth of the first, the beginning half of the second was all Flint as the Firebirds held control of the puck and were able to take an early lead. Nathan Aspinall got possession of the puck down low before making a pass up to Urban Podrekar at the point. With an open shot, Podrekar fired on net, which Ivankovic had covered off, but it slipped past his five-hole.
On top of being down by one, the Steelheads also faced numerous penalties, even starting the second a man-down following a call on Zebeski for unsportsmanlike conduct. Yet, the Trout stayed strong on their PK line and were able to kill each penalty to keep the game within one.
The remainder of the second saw some momentum for Brampton as they got their own chance on the power play. However, even with close chances, including a two-on-one opportunity from Rehkopf and Martone, the Trout would not tie things up in the remaining minutes of Period 2.
With only one period to go, the Steelheads looked for any chance to tie things up and generate another comeback.
Gabriel Chiarot would be the first to tie it in the period off an excellent cross-crease feed from Lucas Karmiris. After intercepting the puck off the Flint defence, Karmiris dangled around the remaining players to bring the puck in deep. Covering off Day, Karmiris passed it over to Chiarot, who sniped it into the open right side to tie the game at three.
Despite the effort, the tie game would not last long as the Firebirds took the lead once again off a poor clearing attempt. Keeping the puck in the Steelheads zone, Karlis Flugins sent the puck down to the corner to Cole Zurawski, who then sent it out front to Matthew Wang for the one-timer.
As the clock ran down, it seemed like the victory was going to the Firebirds. However, with less than 30 seconds to go, the Steelheads tied things up to force overtime.
After Ivankovic was sent to the bench for the extra attacker, the Trout set up for one final play. Getting the puck at the point and seeing the traffic out front, MacDonell fired one on the net, which was tipped in by Alriksson to tie the game at four. The final seconds of regulation ran out, and it was time for overtime.
The Trout got possession off the faceoff and began the rush into the offensive zone. Martone settled the puck down and patiently waited before passing to Harding, who was set up at the point. Seeing the open lane, Harding used his speed to drive towards the net, deke around the defence and fake out Day on the backhand to secure the overtime victory.
The Steelheads return to action on Wednesday as they head to Ottawa to take on the 67s. The Trout return home on January 11 as they take on the North Bay Battalion for their First Responders game. For tickets, click here.
