Flint, Mich. – The Firebirds defeated the Sting 4-2 for the second time in three days with a home-ice victory on Tuesday. Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) netted his 45th of the season, which was the team’s 275th goal of the year and yet another new record for the franchise. He also scored a late empty-netter and was named the game’s ‘Second Star.’ Flint’s lone power-play tally in the third period also tied the record of 49 goals in a season with the man-advantage. With the victory, the club set yet another milestone for regular-season wins at 41 with two games remaining before playoffs. Zacharie Giroux and defenseman Tyler Deline were the other two Flint players to find twine. Between the pipes, Luke Cavallin backstopped his team and earned his OHL-leading 35th victory. Gaudreau (San Jose Sharks) got the start in net across the ice and turned aside 37 of the 40 shots faced. Alexis Daviault and Marco Sikic scored the goals for the visiting Sting.
The opening frame was played fairly even, with shots tied at 7-7 ten minutes in, and 15-13 in Sarnia’s favor after 20 minutes. The score remained knotted at zero, however. Faceoffs also ended slightly in favor of the Sting 12-10. Flint killed off the lone penalty of the first period.
The Birds got stung early in the middle frame. Zach Filak made a short backhand pass in the neutral zone to Alexis Daviault streaking up the left-wing boards. Daviault carried to the top of the left circle before leaving the puck for the trailing Nolan Dann. The winger snapped a quick shot that was kicked aside by Cavallin, back toward the left circle. Daviault was still in the area and picked up the rebound, lifting it high over Cavallin’s right shoulder for his fifth of the season just 59 seconds into the second.
Flint battled back and tied the game just over five minutes later. Braeden Kressler (Toronto Maple Leafs) made the set-up pass that sprung Tag Bertuzzi and Zacharie Giroux on a two-on-one rush. Bertuzzi held on the right until the last second then led Giroux perfectly for a short-range one-time. The puck slipped in near-side for Giroux’s 13th of the season at 6:07.
Near the midway point of the middle stanza, Luca D’Amato made a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone to Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) at his offensive blue line. Kuzmin carried just across and fed Brennan Othmann streaking up the middle of the zone. Flint’s Captain did what he does best, and buried his team-leading 45th with a wicked wrister glove-side at 9:37.
Late in the period, the frustrations began to mount. Players were coming together after the whistles, and there was even an old-fashioned scuffle. The momentum seemed to tilt in Sarnia’s favor, as with under two minutes to play in period two they lit the lamp on a power play to tie the contest. Two players were battling for a loose puck against the end boards behind Cavallin. The Firebirds tried to clear the puck, but after pressure from DeGurse, the clearing attempt went off the back of Cavallin and into the net. As Marko Sikic was the last Sting player to touch the puck, he was credited with the goal.
Shots in the second period ended 12-11 to the Sting’s advantage. Flint outdrew Sarnia 12-11. The Sting went one-for-two with the man-advantage while the Birds didn’t get a chance to test their power play.
Less than three minutes into period three, Coulson Pitre emerged on a breakaway after splitting two defenders. He was hauled down from behind, resulting in a penalty shot. His wrister from the inner edge of the left circle, however, was blockered aside by Gaudreau and the game remained tied at two.
Tyler Deline broke the tie with a power-play marker at 14:16. His low wrister from the left point made it under Gaudreau’s glove for his seventh of the campaign, assisted by Kuzmin and Gavin Hayes.
Gaudreau was called to the bench for the sixth skater at the 19-minute mark, but Brennan Othmann emerged all alone through the neutral zone and buried his 46th with 41 seconds remaining, unassisted.
The Birds outshot the Bees 41-32 and outdrew them 34-31. On special teams, the Firebirds ended the game with a perfect one-for-one on the power play and killed two of the three penalties taken.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
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