By Carl Chimenti

 In the first of eight meetings between the two clubs, the Flint Firebirds (5-2-0-0) scored three power-play goals and then held on for dear life, as the Sarnia Sting (5-3-1-0) put up a late push, only to fall short 6-4 Saturday night, at the Dort Financial Center.

 

With Sarnia trailing 5-2 late in the third period, Parker Holmes (Chicago Blackhawks) scored (2nd), on a turn-around, to close the gap at 11:12, and that’s where the late action started. With 3:57 remaining in the game, Di lorio took a late hit along the boards, and after a review the Sting were awarded a five minute power-play, as Brady Smith was handed a major along with a gamemisconduct. The Sting appeared to score on the lengthy man-advantage. Brenner Lammens jammed the puck home for the goal, but there was no signal from the referees and the play went under review once again. Another long delay and the goal was not allowed, much to the surprise from the Sting bench. Played resumed with a face-off deep in the Flint end.

 

Sarnia won the draw, with the puck going back to TylerChallenger (4th) and he moved in to score the power-play goal at 19:10 to make it 5-4. But that’s as close as the Sting would come as the Firebirds scored a short-handed, empty net goal at 19:45.

 

Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko, saw his shut-out streak end at 83:04 as he totaled 34 saves on 39 shots. Easton Walos scored twice, his team leading 6th and 7th goals. The Sting had six players with one assist each, which included Logan Hawery, Jonas Gulbrandsen, Simon Katolicky (Calgary Flames), Chase Gaughan, Dracen Campbell and Cole Emerton. The Sting went 2/6 on the power-play.

 

 

Flint goaltender Mason Courville, stopped 34 of 38 shots as the Firebirds out-shot the Sting 40-38. Flint swept the three star selections, although it was difficult to understand why Walos was not chosen. Brady Smith was the first star with two goals, Cooper Williams had one goal and two assists, with second star honors, and the third star went to Bryson Morgan with a pair of assists.

 

 

Sarnia got off to a slow start in the opening period and Flint took advantage scoring two goals. Williams scored at the one minute mark ending Tkach-Tkachenko shut-out streak at 83:04. Luka Graziano made it 2-0 at 5:48 with a power-play goal, tipping the puck past Tkach-Tkachenko from in front. The Sting came alive shortly after as Walos scored the first of his two goals on the power-play at 7:22. A three-way passing play from Hawery and Emerton set up the blast from Walos from the top of the face-off circle. Walos tied the game at 11:40 as he deposited

 

 

the puck following a save from Courville in front. The Firebirds broke the 2-2 tie at 16:48 with their second power-play goal. Tkach-Tkachenko made the initial save, but Smith was there to put the rebound into the net. Flint out-shot Sarnia 20-10.

 

 

Flint scored two goals in the middle period to grab a 5-2 lead after forty minutes. Before the goals, Tkach-Tkachenko made three back to back to back saves in succession, as he robed Carter Beauchesne, Cole

 

Guizzetti and Josh Bonnyman in that order. Flint made it 4-2 at 8:20 as Xavier Tessier scored after receiving a pass from Ryland Cunningham.

 

 

A third Flint power-play goal wrapped up the second period scoring, as Smith scored his second of the game, poking the puck past Tkach-Tkachenko at 12:07. Both teams had 11 shots on goal.