London, Ont. – The Firebirds won their second game in three days over the London Knights Friday, this time by a final score of 3-1 in front of more than 9,000 fans at the Budweiser Gardens. Flint’s top-ranked penalty came up big, killing four penalties that included a four-minute double minor and a five-minute major. Captain Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) and Sahil Panwar each scored and added an assist and leading rookie Gavin Hayes found twine for the Firebirds. The OHL’s top scorer Luke Evangelista (Nashville Predators) potted the lone marker for the home team with his 52nd of the season. Luke Cavallin stopped 32 of 33 shots to earn his league-leading 32nd victory of the season, while Owen Flores stopped 35 of 38 for the Knights.
Flint opened the scoring at the 6:48 mark of the opening frame. Brennan Othmann carried across the blue line along the left-wing wall and left a drop pass for Sahil Panwar. Panwar carried only a couple of strides before returning the puck to his captain, poised and ready in the high slot. Othmann’s one-timer beat Flores up high on the glove side for his 42nd of the campaign.
London turned up the heat in the latter half of the first period, resulting in the tying goal at 17:17. Antonio Stranges (Dallas Stars) made a nice backhand cross-ice pass to Sean McGurn along the right-wing wall. McGurn made a move around his defender and slipped a pass to Luke Evangelista on the far side of the slot. London’s Captain faked near side before sliding the puck around Cavallin at ice level for his league-leading 52nd of the season.
First-period shots favored the Firebirds 16-9, despite London getting the early 3-0 edge. Faceoffs were also to Flint’s advantage 14-8. The lone power-play chance of the first 20 minutes went to the Birds, but they were unable to convert.
The second period felt like a playoff game, with both teams checking tightly and very few whistles to disrupt the end-to-end action. Both netminders were tested from close range, and both stood tall. The Firebirds had two power-play opportunities, including over a minute of five-on-three, but were unable to solve London’s rookie netminder. London finished the period 0-for-1 with the man advantage. Shots in the middle stanza ended 11-10 in Flint’s favor, and faceoffs went 8-7 for Flint.
Discipline became a factor after another five minutes of very physical play to start the third. The result was a five-minute power play for London. The OHL’s number one penalty kill not only did their job but also chipped in a shorthanded goal to take a 2-1 lead. Othmann made a diving play to swipe the puck out of his defensive end, and the speedy Sahil Panwar was off to the races. All alone in the slot he faked forehand and lifted the puck backhand over Flores for his 17th of the year at 5:49.
Gavin Hayes put the icing on the cake just past the midway point of the third period off a turnover in the neutral zone. Amadeus Lombardi forced the change of possession and sprung Hayes. He was quick to gather the puck and snipe a wrister from the high slot for his 19th goal at 10:38.
Flores was pulled for the sixth attacker with 1:45 remaining in regulation, but the Firebirds’ defense and Cavallin kept London off the scoresheet to maintain the 3-1 score. In total, Flint outshot the Knights 38-33 and outdrew them 26-24. On special teams, the Birds ended scoreless in three chances while holding London scoreless four times.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
Photography: Matt Hiscox / London Knights
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