Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
After skating to an exciting 4–3 overtime victory over the Windsor Spitfires on March 12th, the fourth-place Soo Greyhounds (38-20-1-5) wrapped up their two-game road trip on March 13th with a visit to Flint, Michigan to face the second-place Flint Firebirds (42-15-4-3). The Firebirds, who were coming off a home win over Windsor on March 7th, used a strong offensive performance and a three-point night from Christopher Thibodeau to defeat the Greyhounds 5–2.
Flint opened the scoring midway through the first period. At 6:31, Nathan Aspinall notched his 31st goal of the season to give the Firebirds a 1–0 lead, with Bryson Morgan and Christopher Thibodeau picking up the assists.
The Firebirds extended their lead later in the period. At 12:21, former Greyhound Brady Smith scored his 9th goal of the season to make it 2–0 Flint. Jacob Battaglia and Christopher Thibodeau (his second assist of the game) assisted on the tally.
After a scoreless second period, the Firebirds struck again early in the third. While shorthanded at 8:13, Kevin He scored his 36th goal of the season, pushing Flint’s lead to 3–0. Christopher Thibodeau collected the assist, his third helper of the night.
The Greyhounds answered just 22 seconds later on the power play. At 8:35, Lukas Fischer buried his 8th goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3–1. Marco Mignosa and Christopher Brown were credited with the assists.
Flint restored their three-goal advantage at 11:35 with a power-play marker from Jimmy Lombardi, who scored his 34th goal of the season. Kevin He and Nathan Aspinall picked up the assists on the play.
The Greyhounds responded once again at 14:26 when Jordan Charron scored his 24th goal of the season, making it 4–2. Christopher Brown and Harris Pangretitsch assisted on the goal.
Flint sealed the victory late in regulation. With the Greyhounds net empty, Nathan Aspinall scored his second goal of the game and 32nd of the season at 19:20, finishing the night’s scoring with an unassisted empty-net tally.
In goal, Landon Miller made 21 saves on 25 shots, taking his twelfth loss of the season for the Greyhounds. At the other end, Mason Vaccari turned aside 30 of 32 shots to earn his 34th win of the season for Flint.
With the road trip complete, the Greyhounds return home to Sault Ste. Marie where they will host the Brantford Bulldogs on Sunday, March 15th at GFL Memorial Gardens. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:07 p.m as the Hounds look to get back in the win column on home ice.
