Flint, Mich. – The Firebirds fell short in their first postseason game of the year, falling to the Owen Sound Attack 6-3 Friday night. The game was much closer than the final score would suggest, with the Attack’s final two tallies being empty-netters. For the Firebirds, Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers), Amadeus Lombardi, and Coulson Pitre were the goal scorers. Six different players found twine for Owen Sound. Nick Chenard got the starting nod in goal for the Attack and made 31 saves on 34 shots for his first OHL playoff victory. Luke Cavallin got the nod for Flint and posted 24 saves.
Both teams came out with the extra step you’d expect in the playoffs. The up-tempo play with plenty of hits from both clubs didn’t last long before the scoreless tie was broken. Owen Sound struck first when Madden Steen made a neutral zone pass to William Portokalis skating across center ice. From high between the circles, the left-handed centerman blistered a wrister that found twine through the five-hole for his first of the playoffs just 2:21 into regulation.
After killing off their first penalty of the night, a too-many-men-on-the-ice call against the Attack put Flint on their first man-advantage. Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) intercepted a clearing attempt to maintain possession in the zone. He immediately set up Brennan Othmann for the one-timer from the bottom of the right-wing circle. The shot rocketed over Chenard’s outstretched left pad to light the lamp for Othmann’s first of the postseason at 7:40.
The first period ended tied at one, with shots even at 10 per side. Flint controlled the faceoff circles, winning 7 of 11 draws. The Firebirds scored once on two power-play chances while holding the Attack scoreless with two tries.
Owen Sound took the 2-1 lead with a power-play tally of their own. Stepan Machacek entered the offensive zone along the right-wing wall before dishing the puck left to Colby Barlow. The first-year wing took a couple strides to the hash marks, then sniped a wrister top-shelf, blocker side for his first of the playoffs at 4:34 of period two. Machacek and Portokalis picked up the helpers.
Flint tied the score again at 8:15 of the middle frame. Tyler Deline launched an initial shot from the left point, which was kicked into the corner by Chenard. Gavin Hayes found the loose puck and advanced it to Amadeus Lombardi along the end boards. Lombardi carried behind the Attack’s net and attempted a wraparound from Chenard’s left. The veteran goaltender made the left-pad save, but Lombardi collected his own rebound and deposited it far-side for career playoff goal number one.
The Firebirds had an excellent chance to reclaim the lead late in the middle stanza with over a full minute of four-on-three power play. The Attack’s defenders and Chenard prevented that from happening. The score remained even at two, despite Flint outshooting the visitors 10-8 and outdrawing them 10-7.
Flint applied the pressure early in the third period. Lombardi carried behind Chenard’s cage and made a short pass back to Coulson Pitre inside the trapezoid. The Firebirds’ all-time leading rookie scorer made a rare backhand wraparound from below the goal line to Chenard’s left that lit the lamp only 38 seconds into the frame. The Attack answered exactly 20 seconds later, with Servac Petrovsky’s 29th of the year and first of the playoffs. Barlow and Cedrick Guindon assisted on the game-tying tally at 58 seconds of period three.
Seconds after killing off another penalty successfully, the Firebirds allowed the go-ahead goal at even strength. Nicolas Porco fired a straight-on wrister from the high slot that slipped in five-hole for his first playoff goal of the season and fifth of his career. Logan LeSage and defenseman Madden Steen drew the assists on the eventual game-winning marker, scored at 16:45 of the final frame.
Flint was awarded a power play late and pulled Cavallin to the bench near the 90-second mark. Gavin Bryant deposited the first into the empty cage shorthanded at 18:24. Igor Chibrikov got the final marker of the game with 1:03 remaining, also without a goalie in the Flint net.
Final shots ended 34-30 in Flint’s favor, and they also won 32 faceoffs to Owen Sound’s 22. On special teams, both clubs scored once on five power-play opportunities.
Next Up: The Firebirds will host the Attack for Game 2 on Saturday night. Saturday’s game will also start at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Tickets for the second game of the postseason are available now from ETIX HERE, at the Dort Financial Center Box Office or by calling 1-800-514-3849.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
Photography: Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds
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