Fired-up Flint fires back


By
March 25, 2017

Seventh-seeded Flint Firebirds served summons to second-seeded Soo Greyhounds tonight that they won’t back down in their first-round, Ontario Hockey League Western Conference playoff.

The visitors from mid Michigan built up leads of 3-0 and 5-1 and put matters away with an empty-net tally en route to a 6-3 victory before a tad more than 3,900 fans at Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

The best-of-seven set is now knotted at 1-1 as the series shifts to Flint for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday of next week.

Good old Italian boy Maurizio Colella was a shining light for Flint with a two-goal, one-assist production in the 6-3 decision.

Defensemen Alex Peters and Jalen Smereck both scored once with an assist and Firebird scoring stalwarts Ryan Moore and Kole Sherwood dented Hound twine once apiece. Flint chased Soo goalie Matthew Villalta after five goals on 23 shots over two periods.

Connor Hicks made 24 saves in the Flint net, allowing Soo goals by Zachary Senyshyn, Boris Katchouk and Jack Kopacka.

Counting regular-season play, the win for Flint was its fourth in five road outings at the Essar Centre this season.

The Greyhounds finished 28 points ahead of the Firebirds during the 2016-2017 regular season and took the opening game of the playoffs by a 5-2 margin.

But for now, the two teams are even.

PHOTO: Flint forward Ryan Littlejohn heads up ice in OHL playoff action at the Soo. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)


What you think about “Fired-up Flint fires back”

  1. Shaky goaltending and an absolutely pathetic PP will prevent this Hound team from going very far in the playoffs. And even though the whole team struggled thru two periods, it had plenty of power plays to stay in the game. Erie, Owen Sound and London are never out of games for this exact reason. This has to fall on the players but to a larger extent, the coaching staff. Are they showing/teaching different PP systems when you have struggled all year? I think not. Too bad, lots of talent on this team. Vilalta has given up 3 weak goals over two games so look for Raaymakers to play Monday night.

    1. I totally agree. I can’t fathom a PP being this bad. What PP system do they use now? Do you know of any other PP systems they could use? I am as baffled as you are.

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