The Attack lost a heart-breaker in Flint. But it felt like progress.
Darian Anderson scored twice in the third, including the game-winner short-handed with 1:07 remaining, as the Flint Firebirds rallied to beat the Owen Sound Attack 3-2 in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday night at Dort Financial Centre.
Anderson’s goal late in the third gave Flint (6-2-1) its first lead of the game, as the Firebirds extended their point-streak to five. Jimmy Lombardi also scored.
Pierce Mbuyi had both goals for the Attack (2-8), which lost its fourth in a row.
The Attack opened the scoring and took a 2-1 lead into the third.
It was a resilient bounce back effort by the Attack after a blowout loss in Windsor the night before – just not the result they were hoping for.
“I’m just proud of our guys. It was a traumatic experience last night. They came together and executed the game plan our coaching staff put together,” Attack Head Coach Keenan Reynolds says. “Didn’t get the result we wanted. But if we play that way consistently, we’re going to be in a good spot.”
Mbuyi staked the Attack to a 1-0 lead with a power play goal just over four minutes into the second period. John Banks got him a pass near the Attack captain’s familiar spot on the right flank, and he one timed a low shot by Mason Courville.
Flint tied it just over four minutes later. Cooper Williams hit Anderson with a stretch pass on the right wing, and then No. 22 found Lombardi streaking in off the left side. The Firebirds’ captain put a high shot past Ryerson Leenders to tie the game 1-1.
Owen Sound retook the lead at 13:30 of the second period. Max Delisle won a battle in the corner and then found Mbuyi streaking into the slot and hit him with a pass. Mbuyi fired a wrist shot by Courville to make it 2-1.
Flint tied the game just over eight minutes into the third. Anderson stepped back on the ice after serving a penalty and joined Ryland Cunningham for a 2-on-1 rush. Cunningham passed to Anderson, who then put a shot five-hole by Leenders to make it 2-2.
Williams was called for high-sticking with 2:50 to go in regulation, giving the Attack a late power play to try to retake the lead.
But it was the Firebirds who found the goal. Lombardi won an offensive zone draw, and then Anderson cut toward the net from the left side and put a backhand shot that got past Leenders with 1:07 remaining to put Flint up 3-2.
Courville made 19 saves in the win, while Leenders stopped 35 taking the loss. Flint outshot Owen Sound 38-21 while going 0 for 6 on the power play; the Attack finished 1 for 5, and allowed a short-handed goal against.
Tomorrow, Owen Sound will look to salvage its three-in-three West Division trip when they take on Saginaw Spirit.
OLD FOE
The Attack were taking on the Firebirds for the first time since being swept in the first round of the OHL Playoffs last season, while being outscored 35-3.
Nine returning players for the Attack were on the ice in Flint Saturday night to face the Firebirds for the first time since the playoff pounding.
Reynolds felt his group dealt handled the test well.
“I think it starts with our leadership, our older players. The last time they were in this building it didn’t go their way, in a big way,” Reynolds says. “To come in, especially after the way we played last night, to slay some demons and make this a really competitive game, one we had a chance to win, just shows maturity and evolution.”
“You can always learn from losses like the one against Windsor,” Reynolds continues. “I think what we learned as a team is, if we come in and don’t play the right way, bad things happen in this league. Because everyone’s so talented, everyone’s so well coached.”
“If you follow a game plan and you’re resilient, emotionally and physically, good things happen.”