Greyhounds battle back but can't capitalize in loss to Firebirds (video)

It’s not uncommon to hear an Ontario Hockey League coach talk about starting on time.

For the Soo Greyhounds, it was an issue on Wednesday night and one the team couldn’t fully overcome in a 7-4 loss against the Flint Firebirds at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

Flint opened up a 3-1 lead just over eight minutes in and, despite the Greyhounds getting a pair of goals to tie the contest, the Firebirds scored in the final minute of the second period and extended the lead in the opening minute of the third en route to the win.

For Greyhounds coach John Dean, the game was more about the Greyhounds inability to capitalize on chances and costly mistakes late.

“Guys get frustrated and start holding their sticks tight,” Dean said.

“The fourth, fifth, and sixth goals were all highly preventable,” Dean also said. “It’s guys that are trying really hard and they’re pressing, but that’s a time that we didn’t need to press and we didn’t need to be gambling.”

Dean added that the first eight minutes of the game were tough and starting games well is something the team will “need to address.”

“Take away the first eight minutes, in the next 32 we played pretty well but should have put some more pucks in the back of the net but didn’t,” Dean said. “Credit to (Flint), they came out and scored on their opportunities.”

With the game tied at three late in the second period, Flint’s Jack Phibbs scored on a penalty shot in the final minute of the period to put the Firebirds up 4-3 and then the visitors extended the lead thanks to a goal by Ty Dellandrea in the opening minute of the third.

“It was a highly preventable situation that did not need to happen,” Dean said of the play that led to the penalty shot. “And it’s deflating. As a staff, you want to stay even keel and make sure the guys know they played well (in the period). They can sense the disappointment and the air coming out of the balloon a little bit.”

Flint coach Eric Wellwood spoke of how the Firebirds got timely goals in the game.

“We get a goal on the first shift of the game. We get a goal (in the last minute) of the second where they were absolutely dominating us,” Wellwood said.

The Flint bench boss also spoke of how big the start was.

“Everybody focuses on having a good start,” Wellwood said. “You don’t expect to get a goal right off the hop, but it helps. We let our foot off the gas once we got our third goal.”

Overage goaltender Bailey Brkin got the start for the Greyhounds but was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots.

On his way to the bench, Brkin was involved in an altercation that saw the netminder given a major penalty and game misconduct for butt-ending.

“He was frustrated and if he had another opportunity, he probably wouldn’t do it again,” Dean said. “It’s tough on that kid, he’s played great for us all year.

Nick Malik stopped 19 shots the rest of the way for the Greyhounds.

“He was solid,” Dean said. “We gave up a lot of chances in the third when we were pressing there. He was very good.”

Wellwood did say that the Greyhounds killing off the early major penalty to Brkin helped the home team gather some momentum.

“They did a good job killing it and it gave them some momentum and they carried it into the second period,” Wellwood said.

Joe Carroll scored three times for the Greyhounds while Jaromir Pytlik chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Ryan O’Rourke had a pair of assists for the Greyhounds, who fall to 20-22-2-0 with the loss as the team prepares for a pair of road games on the weekend, beginning Saturday night in Sudbury against the Wolves.

Dellandrea and linemate Riley Piercey had two goals and two assists each for the Firebirds.

Jake Durham added a goal and two assists for the visitors. Defenceman Tyler Tucker also had a multi-point night with a goal and an assist.

Overage goaltender Anthony Popovich stopped 28 shots for Flint.

The Firebirds improve to 24-17-1-1 with the win.

In other action around the OHL on Wednesday night, in Owen Sound, Mack Guzda stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Owen Sound Attack blanked the Sarnia Sting 5-0 in the lone other game on the schedule. Brady Lyle had a goal and two assists for the Attack while Matthew Struthers assisted on three goals.