Flint continues to motor
This is an unprecedented playoff run for the Flint Firebirds. Now into the third round of the 2022 post season, Flint had never won a single playoff series before in an Ontario Hockey League franchise history that began in 2015.
But the no. 3 seed in the Western Conference has followed up a 42-win regular season with playoff series victories over both the no. 6 seed Owen Sound Attack and the no. 4 seed Soo Greyhounds. Flint was pushed to a seventh and deciding match by upset-minded Owen Sound before the Firebirds swiftly took the measure of the Greyhounds in five games.
Now up against the no. 1 seed Windsor Spitfires, Flint has a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference finals following a Game 1 road victory. Game 2 in the best of seven set goes tonight, again in Windsor.
Backed up overage goalie Luke Cavallin, who has been between the pillars for all nine of Flint’s playoff victories this spring, the Firebirds have flashed a balanced offence that has no less than six forwards with at least eight points thus far in the post season.
They are Brennan Othmann (eight goals, nine assists, 17 points), Amadeus Lombardi (5-17-12), Gavin Hayes (4-6-10), Coulson Pitre (6-3-9), Ethan Keppen (5-4-9) and Sudbury product Zacharie Giroux (5-3-8.)