A furious third-period rally by the Owen Sound Attack came up short in Flint.
The Firebirds found goals from five different players and held on to defeat the Attack 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday night at the Dort Financial Center.
Amadeus Lombardi, Simon Slavicek, Riley Piercey, Braeden Kressler and Ethan Hay scored for Flint (23-22-2-1), who ended a four-game losing streak.
Deni Goure, Servac Petrovsky and Madden Steen scored for the Attack (25-16-4-1), who had a four-game winning streak come to an end.
The Attack were taking on the Firebirds for the first time since being knocked out by Flint in Game 7 of the 2022 OHL Western Conference quarterfinals.
This game looked like it was over after two periods, but it was just starting to get interesting.
The Firebirds led 4-0 after two. Lombardi and Slavicek scored in the first period to stake the hosts to a 2-0 lead.
Piercey then connected on the power play just past the midway mark of the second to make it 3-0; And then Kressler converted a 2-on-1 with Nolan Dann at 15:05 of the second to put Flint in front by four.
But the Attack decided they weren’t going to go quietly.
Goure scored his 22nd of the season just 12 seconds into the third, deflecting a Sam Sedley point shot past Nathan Day to make it 4-1.
Thirty-six seconds later Petrovsky potted a breakaway – and just 48 seconds into the third period the Attack had cut Flint’s lead to 4-2.
That prompted a timeout call by Firebirds head coach Ted Dent.
But the Attack kept coming. Just under four minutes later, a point shot by Steen found its way through traffic and into the net. One goal game. Flint’s 4-0 lead was reduced to 4-3 less than five minutes into the third.
The Firebirds made it a 5-3 game before the midway mark of the third. Corbin Votary was caught out of position after leaving the net to handle the puck, and as he scrambled back towards the crease he lost his stick. Hay ended up with the puck on the doorstep and deposited it to put Flint up by two.
The Attack had an opportunity on the power play with just over six minutes to go. Some tough luck kept it a two-goal game. Day was scrambling in the crease area and without his stick, when a shot came through and beat the Firebirds netminder. But, his stick was lodged into the back of the net and laid on the ice. The puck ended up hitting it and deflecting away from the goal line.
The Attack were down one forward in the third period as Jackson Stewart was ejected from the game for his second fight. He dropped the gloves in the second with Blake Smith and Hay.
Day made 33 saves in the win, while Votary stopped 43 taking the loss. Flint outshot the Attack 48-36 while going 1 for 4 on the power play; Owen Sound finished 0 for 2.
The Attack are right back in action Sunday night for a clash against the Western Conference leading Windsor Spitfires at the WFCU Centre.
You can catch the game live on 560 CFOS with Kia of Owen Sound-Terry’s Trailer Service Bearadio. 6:30 p.m., pregame and 7 p.m., puck drop on Sunday night.
BARLOW’S LATEST GOAL STREAK ENDS
Attack captain Colby Barlow was held off the scoresheet in Flint, ending a four-game goal scoring streak. Owen Sound fell to 4-11-1 in games this season when Barlow doesn’t score.
The four-game goal scoring streak for Barlow was his third noteworthy run of the season. He set the franchise record earlier in the campaign by scoring in 10 straight. That was followed up by an eight-game goal-scoring streak.
GUINDON SHAKES OFF INJURY
Cedrick Guindon’s lengthy ironman streak was in jeopardy Saturday night as the second-year forward was a game-time decision. He is dealing with an upper-body injury. He ended up playing – and has still never missed a game in the Ontario Hockey League.
Guindon has played 114 straight regular season games – and 121 games overall in a row including the 2022 OHL playoffs for the Attack.
ATTACK SKID IN FLINT
Owen Sound’s loss in Flint on Saturday night was the fourth straight setback for the Attack at the Dort Financial Center dating back to the 2022 OHL playoffs. The last win for the Attack in Flint came on April 22, 2022 – Game 1 of the first-round series between the two clubs last season. Owen Sound dropped the next three in Flint in that series.
PETROVSKI RETURNS TO FLINT
Owen Sound Attack defenceman James Petrovski made his return to Flint for to face his former team for the first time Saturday. The 17-year-old defenceman joined the Attack earlier this season, in a Nov 18 trade that sent three draft picks back to Flint.