Guelph, Ont. – The Firebirds invaded Guelph Friday night to take on the Storm in a big-time Western Conference battle. It was the second meeting of the year between the two teams, both coming at the Sleeman Centre. The game saw an incredible comeback from the Firebirds to take it 5-4 in overtime. In doing so, the Firebirds jumped the Soo Greyhounds for First Place in the Western Conference. Luke Cavallin got the start in net for Flint and it was Jacob Oster for Guelph.
The first ten minutes of the opening frame saw a real back-and-forth high-paced game from both teams, with both goaltenders making quality saves to keep the game scoreless.
Despite being out-chanced by Flint, Guelph turned the game around in a flash scoring three goals in the final five minutes of the opening frame. After a steal at the blue line, Guelph went two-on-one the other with Ben McFarlane snapping one far-side for Brayden Guy who put it home passed a sprawling Cavallin. The Storm took the 1-0 lead 15:18 into the 1st period.
The Storm connected again just 1:31 later. Off a 4-on-2 rush, Matthew Poitras batted the rebound out of mid-air to put it into an open net for his 12th of the season. Assisting on the tally were Braeden Bowman and Jake Karabela. Guelph wasn’t done. A loose puck in the offensive end found Danny Zhilkin in the slot who backhanded one high blocker side past Cavallin. Sasha Pastujov (Anaheim Ducks) and Daniil Chayka (Vegas Golden Knights) picked up the assists.
Shots read 16-14 Storm after 1, and they outdrew Flint 16-10 as well with both teams going 0-for-1 on the man-advantage.
Nathaniel Day got the start in net for the ‘Birds to start the 2nd. The move paid off as the Firebirds answered quickly. Luka D’Amato hopped up to start an odd-man rush with Zacharie Giroux and Samuel Assinewai, received the pass from Assinewai and snapped one home off the post, and in, to cut the deficit to 3-1 not even four minutes into the middle stanza. The assist extended Assinewai’s point streak to four games. James Petrovski was credited with the secondary assist.
The Firebirds weren’t done there. Kuzmin received a puck at his own blue line from Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) and skated all the way into the near-side circle of the offensive zone. He sent a harmless wrister in on Oster who didn’t have control over it. The netminder fell to the ice on his back, and his defenseman Luka Profaca found the puck in the crease, tried putting it under the pads of Oster but it slid all the way through into the net to make it 3-2 11:03 into the 2nd. It extended Kuzmin’s point streak to four and gave him his fourth tally in four games.
The come back was complete 1:28 later. After a mad scramble in front, the puck found its way to James Petrovski at the straight point who sent a puck in that had eyes to tie the game at three apiece. The goal was unassisted 12:31 into the 2nd.
The officials then gave a delay of game on the Firebirds bench, which led to the Storm taking the lead back on the man advantage. Matthew Papais tipped home a Michael Buchinger shot at the 15:11 mark of the 2nd to give Guelph the lead back 4-3. They took the lead into the intermission, outshooting Flint 16-10 in the period and outdrew them 15-10 as well.
It took nearly six minutes of play into the 3rd Period for either team to generate a shot on goal, then the Firebirds offense got rolling. They reeled off seven-straight shots, only for Oster to make several sensational saves keeping the lead intact for Guelph. The Firebirds thought they had tied the game after a scramble in front led to Samuel Assinewai finding the back of the net with just over six minutes left. The goal was eventually overturned due to goaltender interference.
Less than a minute later, a great passing play cross-ice from Amadeus Lombardi found Riley Piercey for a one-time bomb in the far circle to tie things up at four with just 3:40 remaining in the game. Brennan Othmann was credited with his second assist of the game as well to give him an even 60 points on the year.
The game went into overtime, and after Nathaniel Day made a highlight-reel save on a 2-0n-0 with under two minutes to play, the Firebirds generated a 2-on-1 off the defensive zone face-off. Zacharie Giroux and Coulson Pitre streaked up ice. Giroux faked, got the defender on the ice, pulled it to the backhand to get Oster moving and then found a wide-open Pitre on the near post to win it 5-4 in overtime. In doing so, Pitre tied the rookie franchise single-season record in both goals (17) and points (33).
The Firebirds outshot the Storm 16-5 in the 3rd Period and OT combined, outshooting them 40-37 for the game. They were outdrawn 40-32. Guelph went 1-for-3 on the powerplay, while the ‘Birds went 0-for-2.
Next Up: The Firebirds’ four-game road trip continues tomorrow night in Erie as they take on the Otters at 7:00 p.m. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:40 on the Firebirds Hockey Network US 103.1 FM.
Photography: Todd Boone / Flint Firebirds
For more information, contact: