Kaden Pitre Scores Overtime Winner As Flint Edges Sarnia 3-2
By Carl Chimenti
Kaden Pitre (Tampa Bay Lightning) scored at 1:39 of overtime and the Flint Firebirds held off a late Sarnia rally to beat the Sting 3-2, Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center.
The Sting scored the tying goal in the third period on a late tally from Beckham Edwards at 14:32. Tyson Doucette picked up a loose puck from behind the net and sent a pass to Edwards who scored his second of the game and fourth of the season. Zach Filak drew the second assist. Edwards was selected as the second star of the game.
Flint appeared to go ahead 3-1 in the third period, but the scoring play quickly went under review and was nullified due to an offside. It was the second time that a goal was disallowed in the contest as Sarnia appeared to tie the game 2-2 in the second period, but was also overturned due to an offside ruling.
Casey Bridgewater, Hughston Hurt, along with Doucette and Filak had one assist each. Nick Surzycia turned in another fine performance stopping 25 of 28 shots.
Nathan Day (Edmonton Oilers) turned aside 23 of 25 shots and was named the third star. Christopher Thibodeau and Jimmy Lombardi had a goal and an assist for the Firebirds. Thibodeau was chosen as the first star. Flint out-shot Sarnia 28-25 but the Sting dominated in the face-off circle 35-28. Both teams failed to score with the man-advantage with Sarnia at 0/4 and Flint 0/1.
Sarnia will return to the Hive for a Sunday afternoon clash against the Soo Greyhounds, with puck drop at 2:05pm. Flint led on the shot clock 11-7, but Sarnia scored the only goal to lead 1-0, after the first twenty minutes. Edwards scored early on at 3:21, as he beat goaltender Day from a sharp angle for his third of the year. Bridgewater and Hurt were credited with the assist. Surzycia was sharp as he stopped all 11 shots, which included a break-away by Matthew Wang (Los Angeles Kings) mid-way thry the opening frame.
Each team went 0/1 on the power-play. Flint scored twice in the second period to grab a 2-1 margin. Sarnia appeared to tie the game 2-2 on a nifty goal from Wainwright but the play went under review and the goal was disallowed on an offside call. Thibodeau scored at 5:31 and Lombardi added a short-handed marker at 9:39. The Sting had a pair of power-play chances but failed to connect. Flint out-shot Sarnia 9-7.
