Power-Play Fails To Click As Sarnia Falls To Flint 3-1
By Carl Chimenti
The Flint Firebirds (40-15-4-3) scored the first three goals of the game and then held on to beat the Sarnia Sting (18-36-7-1) 3-1, in front of a large crowd of 3,764 on Friday night, at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
The Firebirds penalty kill was perfect as they managed to shut down the Sting, as Sarnia went 0/8. Flint went one for four.
Kale Osipenko was especially sharp tonight as he stopped 20 of 23 and was selected as the second star. Osipenko made a number high danger zone saves, including robbing Christopher Thibodeau in the middle frame and then coming up with his best stop on a spectacular save, also in the second period on Jacob Battaglia (Calgary Flames).
Another Sting highlight came when Sarvir Jaworski scored his first career OHL goal and point.
Neither team scored in the final period, although the Sting thought they had scored with less than eight minutes to go as Beckham Edwards managed to put the puck into the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a quick whistle, losing sight of the puck.
Kevin He (Winnipeg Jets) was the first star with a couple of primary assists on the first two Firebird goals in the first period. Rylan Fellinger (Toronto Maple Leafs) was the third star with a goal.
Mason Courville stopped all but one of the 23 shots he faced, as the two teams each put up 23 shots on goal. Sarnia was better on the face-off 32-20.
Puck was dropped in the first period, and seven seconds into the game Sarnia was awarded a power-play. The Sting managed to put a couple of shots on net with both Manza and Pickell having good scoring chances.
Minutes later Flint was assessed a double minor. Sarnia had four shots on goal, but once again failed to score. Pickell had the best chance as he was set up in the high slot, but Courville made a terrific save, as Pickell put both hands on his helmet in disbelief.
Later in the period Flint went on the power-play, but the Sting penalty kill was strong as the Firebirds failed to get a shot on goal.
Flint scored an even strength goal at 12:47 as He set up Fellinger in front for a tip in.
In the final two minutes Flint was awarded a four minute power-play which would bleed into the second period. Flint out-shot Sarnia 9-8.
Flint with the man-advantage scored 46 seconds into the second period as He set up Aspinall. Urban Podrekar was credited with the second assist.
Ihnat Pazii made it 3-0 at 5:20 with an unassisted goal. Moments later Osipenko made a terrific save, one for the highlight reel, as he robbed Battaglia.
Sarnia got on the board as Young made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone. The puck went to Jaworski and he scored, putting the puck in on the far side from a bad angle at the 15:00 minute mark. It was Jaworski’s first career OHL goal and point.
Sarnia out-shot Flint 8-7.
