Sunday, February 20, 2022

Othmann's Firebirds Edge Cuylle's Spitfire in Shootout Thriller

Brennan Othmann (Flint Firebirds)
So stop me if you have heard this one already this week, two top teams face off in a critical matchup. The goalies put on a show as the game ends regulation in a tie, in overtime still tied and it takes eight rounds of the shootout before a winner is decided. 

Another New York Rangers game perhaps? No, but matchup number six between Will Cuylle's Windsor Spitfires and Brennan Othmann's Flint Firebirds. Just like last night this game needed extra time before the Firebirds would finally earn a 3-2 win against their rivals in the OHL's West Division. 

Cuylle would score his 28th goal of the season for the Spitfires while Othmann would go scoreless to end a seven-game scoring streak (4-6-10). Othmann got robbed on a breakaway as I still don't know how Windsor's goalie stopped him.

And Cuylle's goal was another deflected shot that found its way past the Flint goalie. He is 28-20-48 on the season. 


Going to have to start calling Will Cuylle "Magic Man" as the way he can control his stick and deflect shots into the net is something else. You have to look at the plays in slow-motion to see how he can re-direct the puck into the net to believe it. 

But finally, the Flint Firebirds found a way to defeat the Windsor Spitfires as the season series stands at 5-1 in favor of Windsor with two more games left between the two teams.

Talyn Boyko led his Kelowna Rockets to a 3-2 win over the host Prince George Cougars and for the second straight night, Boyko earned a star on the road. Boyko was named the game's second star after stopping 26 out of 28 shots. 

The first goal Boyko surrendered came via video review as the net was being knocked off its moorings as the puck was headed in. It could have gone either way depending on who was the video judge.

Prince George's second goal was a point shot that Boyko appeared to be screened on and never had a chance. In any case, Boyko wins his third straight start and is 10-1 in his last 11 starts.

The Kelowna goalie is now 20-12-2-1 with a 3.10 goals against and a 0.910 save percentage. Boyko is sixth in the WHL for wins and 11th in save percentage. His 0.918 just with Kelowna would have him as 3rd best.

Evan Vierling got his Barrie Colts going with his 11th goal of the season as the Colts spanked the Oshawa Generals 5-1. The goal at 1:20 of the first period opened the scoring as Barrie never trailed in this game.

Vierling improves to 11-19-30 on the season and extended his scoring streak to five games (3-5-8) and the Colts have a three-game winning streak. Barrie has several games in hand on the teams ahead of them in the OHL standings.

Ryder Korczak set up the "dagger" goal as his Moose Jaw Warriors defeated Prince Albert 4-2. The win extended the Warriors' unbeaten streak to five games as they chase Edmonton for the WHL's Eastern Conference title.

Korczak's assist was his 41st and with 18 goals that give him 59 points for the season.v Korczak is third in the WHL for most assists and second in face-off wins.

I do have to share with you guys one heck of a save from this game by Moose Jaw's Carl Tetachuk.


Riley Hughes set up what proved to be the game-winning goal as his Northeastern Huskies got a badly needed win over Boston College 4-1. Hughes set up Matt Demellis for an even-strength goal at 5:18 of the second period putting Northeastern up 2-1 as they went on to win 4-1. 

For the junior forward the assist improves him to 2-9-11 on the season. For Northeastern the win jumps them to fifth in the  Hockey East Standings with five games left on the conference schedule.

Brett Berard was scoreless as his Providence Friars edged the Hockey East-leading UMass-Lowell Riverhawks 3-2. Berard was a +1 on one shot with a roughing minor. 

Providence badly needed this win to have a chance at earning a home-ice advantage in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs.

Jayden Grubbe and his Red Deer Rebels spotted the Winnipeg Ice a 2-0 lead then came back with three unanswered goals in the third period to win 3-2. Grubbe was scoreless with no shots but was 10-6 on his faceoffs.

Hank Kempf was scoreless as his Cornell Big Red defeated Clarkson 6-2 in ECAC action. He was a +2 on one shot as Cornell 15-8-4

Simon Kjellberg had a secondary assist but it was not enough as his Rensselaer Engineers dropped a 5-2 decision to the Yale Bulldogs in ECAC action. Kjellberg earned the assist on the Engineer's second goal of the game late in the third period. 

For Kjellberg, the assist was part of a one-shot with a -1 night. He improves to 5-17-21.

Matthew Rempe was ejected at 1:55 of the first period on his first shift of the game for in my eyes a bogus "knee-to-knee" major penalty. This is what Rempe faces every night, because of his size//

Did Not Play

Hugo Olllas did not get the start for Merrimack against Vermont, as they continue to split the goaltending duties.

Dylan Garand missed his second straight game for his Kamloops Blazers as they hosted the Vancouver Giants. 

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