London, Ont. – The first-place Firebirds skated to a decisive 6-2 triumph over the second-place Knights in front of more than 8,300 fans at Budweiser Gardens on Friday. It was just their second win ever at “The Bud.” Flint was led by two-goal performances by both Tag Bertuzzi and Coulson Pitre, the second and third stars of the game respectively. Captain Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) also picked up two more points (1 G, 1 A) in the tilt. It was Luke Cavallin, the game’s ‘First Star,’ that made the biggest difference with 38 saves on 40 shots. The scoring leader in the OHL, Luke Evangelista (Nashville Predators) and rookie Landon Sim struck paydirt for the Knights, while a duo of rookie netminders combined for 27 saves on 33 shots.
Despite being outshot by London 14-9 in the first period, the Birds escaped with a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Luca D’Amato made a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone to Tag Bertuzzi as he hit the offensive blue line along the left-wing boards. Bertuzzi sniped a wrister from low in the left circle far-side, glove-side on first-year goaltender Owen Flores. The goal was Bertuzzi’s 14th of the season, assisted by D’Amato and Gavin Hayes at 1:48.
The Knights only needed seven seconds of second-period play to tie the game. The Firebirds won the opening faceoff, but Plymouth, Mich. native Antonio Stranges (Dallas Stars) turned on the gas and was the first to the puck between Flint’s defenders. He rifled a shot from inside the left circle, but Cavallin’s kick save slid through the slot to the OHL’s top scorer, Luke Evangelista. The veteran winger put his 45th of the campaign into an open net.
The Firebirds answered moments later on their first shot of the middle frame. Sahil Panwar grabbed a mishandled puck in the neutral zone and shot up the left-wing wall. Riley Piercey saw the play developing and quickly created a two-on-one. Panwar’s pass was a perfect setup for Piercey’s one-timer goal at 4:35, his 27th of the season.
On their first power play of the night, Tyler Deline made the defense-to-defense pass to Dmitry Kuzmin (Winnipeg Jets) centered just inside the blue line. Kuzmin faked a slapper before carrying in toward the slot. He dished to his captain Othmann who was wound up and ready. Othmann’s blast found twine near-side for his team-leading 38th of the season at 14:02.
Next, Amadeus Lombardi made a rink-wide pass, after stealing the puck from Evangelista, off the boards that sprung Coulson Pitre ahead of the defense on a breakaway. The rookie faked a shot near-side from below the right circle, but held and slipped the puck far-side just outside of Flores’ right skate. It was Pitre’s 19th of the season, logged with 22 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
Second-period shots favored the Knights 15-9, and faceoffs after 40 minutes also showed a London advantage of 22-15. The Birds went 1-for-1 with man-advantage, and London was scoreless on two power-play chances.
Owen Willmore, playing in just his second career OHL game, entered as goaltender for the Knights for the third period. Coulson Pitre potted the first goal of the final frame, however. His second of the night was logged at 8:18 of the third, assisted by Brennan Othmann at even strength after the Firebirds captain stole the puck below the goal line. Then Bertuzzi netted his second of the contest at 11:16 to round out the scoring for the Firebirds. Slavicek made a great play along the boards in his defensive end to clear the zone and eventually spring Bertuzzi to free up the left-wing side for the breakaway goal that gave the Birds a 6-1 lead.
London added one final marker at 11:28 to double their total. Cavallin stopped a dump-in behind his cage and left for a teammate, but Liam Gilmartin (San Jose Sharks) was the first on the scene. He quickly fed the slot from Cavallin’s right, and Landon Sim one-timed the pass home before Flint’s netminder could regain position. The goal was Sim’s tenth of the season.
Final shots showed London on top 40-33. The Knights also outdrew the Birds 36-26 in the tilt. Flint had one power-play chance in the third, but came up empty and ended the night one-for-two.
Story: Brandon Mills / flintfirebirds.com
Photography: Matt Hiscox / London Knights
You must be logged in to post a comment.