Flint, Mich. – The Firebirds won their second playoff game to even the Round 1 series at 2-2. The teams split the two games on home ice, and have now split the two games in Owen Sound. Ethan Keppen (Vancouver Canucks) scored his second of the series, the game-winning goal, and earned ‘First Star’ accolades for his efforts. Luca D’Amato was named ‘Third Star’ for a strong defensive showing. Between the pipes, Luke Cavallin made 28 saves on 30 shots to pick up his second postseason victory. Nick Chenard posted 41 saves on 44 shots in goal for the Attack.
Owen Sound scored twice in less than five minutes to jump to the early 2-0 lead. First, William Portokalis took a pass from Ethan Burroughs and carried it across the blue line on the right-wing side. He hit the brakes and sent a short forward pass for Madden Steen. Steen couldn’t handle the pass, and it slid to the end boards. He picked it up and launched it toward the backside of Cavallin, and got the lucky deflection into the back of the net. It was Steen’s first OHL goal, logged at 10:36 of the first period.
Next, the Attack’s top scorer in the playoffs netted his fourth goal in the fourth playoff game. Julian Fantino grabbed a rebound low in the left-wing circle and quickly one-timed it nearside at 15:14. Taos Jordan and Sam Sedley were credited with the helpers.
Flint cut the deficit to one inside the final two minutes of the period when Amadeus Lombardi collected a loose puck in the left-wing corner and carried it behind the Owen Sound cage. Once on the far side, he spun and snapped a quick shot behind Chenard for his second of the playoffs at 18:17, unassisted.
First-period shots favored the Birds 13-12. Faceoffs ended even at 11-11. Owen Sound had the lone power-play chance of the opening frame but were unable to convert.
The Bears were awarded a four-minute power play early in the middle stanza, but Flint’s penalty killers held strong while generating a couple of offensive rushes of their own shorthanded. The back-and-forth action was intense during the second period, but the score remained 2-1 in the Attack’s favor. Both goaltenders made several key saves during the frame. Flint outshot the Bears 11- 10 but were outworked in the faceoff circles 10-4. The Firebirds went 0-for-1 with the man-advantage while keeping the Attack scoreless with two power-play opportunities.
Flint scored thrice in the third period, although one of the markers was disallowed due to offside after review. The tying goal was by Zacharie Giroux. Keppen sent a loose puck in around the wall, Coulson Pitre picked the pocket of the defender and sent it in front to a wide-open Giroux just 2:44 into the 3rd. Next a breakout pass from defenseman Tyler Deline to Ethan Keppen in the neutral zone. Keppen carried into the offensive zone on the left-wing side, then stickhandled around two defenders before wristing a shot to the far side, up high. The goal was Keppen’s second of the postseason scored at 7:48, assisted by Deline and Zacharie Giroux.
Chenard was called to the bench with around 90 seconds remaining, and the Attack used their timeout shortly thereafter. Flint’s defense held strong and maintained the lead until the final horn sounded. The Firebirds ended with a 44-30 advantage in shots. They also outdrew the Bears 33-28 through 60 minutes. On special teams, neither team converted on a power play, with Flint ending 0-for-2 and the Attack finishing 0-for-3.
Next Up: Game 5 will be played in Flint Sunday, May 1 at 4:00 pm. Tickets for Game 5 are available from ETIX HERE, at the Dort Financial Center Box Office or by calling 1-800-514-3849.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
Photography: Greg Cowan / Sun Times
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