After opening a three game homestand on Wednesday, January 26th in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario over the fifth place Saginaw Spirit, the first place (22-12-2-1) Soo Greyhounds hit the ice on Friday, January 28th against the second place (20-13-0-2) Flint Firebirds in a west division Ontario Hockey League battle. The Greyhounds headed into their 38th game of the season two points ahead of the Firebirds atop of the division with 47 points.
With Rory Kerins behind Firebird goaltender Luke Cavallin, the Soo veteran forward registers his 65th point of the season with a pass to Cole MacKay at the left hash marks to rifle a snapshot the Flint goaltender Cavallin’s left shoulder with 57 seconds remaining the period to send the Greyhounds into the first intermission up 1 – 0 on MacKay’s 16th of the 2021 – 2022 season. At 5:08 of the second, defenseman Robert Calisti sneaks his 15th of the season with a wrap around goal from the right of Cavallin’s crease to lift the Soo’s second over the Firdbird goaltender’s right pad to bring the lead to 2 – 0. With a Greyhound two on one with Tye Kartye skating up the right side of the ice, Kartye sends a pass to Tanner Dickinson in the left faceoff circle to find the back of Cavallin’s net over the Flint goaltender’s left shoulder to increase the lead to 3 – 0 at 9:52. Kalvyn Watson drew the second helper on Dickinson’s 17th of the season.
With Flint on a powerplay, Riley Piercey slides the Firebird first goal on a breakaway goal at 13:16 of the season under Soo netminder Tucker Tynan’s blocker to pull the visitors within two. Sahil Panwar notched the lone contributor on Piercey’s 16th of the season. After an unsuccessful clearing attempt, Firebird Tyler Deline picks up a loose puck in front of Greyhound’s crease in a scrum to find Tynan’s five hole to close the gap to one for Flint at 17:44. Dmitry and Zachaire Giroux had the assists on Deline’s fourth of season. 66 seconds into the third period, Flint’s Brennan Othmann outraces the Greyhound defense to fire a wrist shot over Tynan’s catcher to find the back of the Soo net to even the game 3 – 3 for the Firebirds. Panwar had only assist on Othmann’s 28th of the season. 66 seconds into the third period, Flint’s Brennan Othmann outraces the Greyhound defense to fire a wrist shot over Tynan’s catcher to find the back of the Soo net to even the game 3 – 3 for the Firebirds. Panwar had only assist on Othmann’s 28th of the season. With Dickinson all alone in the left faceoff circle, Kirill Kudryavtsev fires a pass to Dickinson to fire a wrist shot over Cavillan’s left shoulder to give the Soo a 4 – 3 lead. Watson added the other contributor on Dickinson’s second of the contest.
All alone in front the of the Greyhound net at 16:27 of the period, Amadeus Lombardi lifts the Firebirds fourth past Tynan to tie the game 4 – 4 for Flint. Tag Bertuzzi and Ethan Keppen set up Lombardi’s 15th of the season. With 72 seconds remaining in overtime and Flint shorthanded, Giroux sitting all alone in the right faceoff circle, Giroux rifles the game winner past Tynan to give the visitors a 5 – 4 overtime win. Zack Terry drew the lone helper on Giroux’s tenth of the season. Flint goaltender Luke Gavallin stopped 36 of 40 in the 5 – 4 overtime win while Greyhound netminder Tucker Tynan turned away 28 of 33 shots in the Greyhounds loss.
The Soo will close out the month of January with hosting the Barrie Colts on Saturday, January 29th at the Memorial Gardens in a 7:07 p.m puck drop.
Photo Bob Davies
