ALFANO SCORES 14TH OF SEASON IN OTTERS FINAL TRIP TO FLINT
Flint, Michigan – The second of three-straight on the road would take the Erie Otters to Flint for a Wednesday night battle with the Firebirds. With a number of big names out of the lineup like Elias Cohen, Noah Sedore, Brett Bressette, and Pano Fimis, it would be time for the true depth of the team to show through. Looking to build off a January win in the Vehicle City, Erie would march out Nolan Lalonde to start in net for the first time since his win against Peterborough on Saturday night. Flint would come into the final game of their homestand having won four-in-a-row.
Opportunities would be traded by either side in a rough-and-hard-fought first period, as 17 total shots would be fired. 8:25 into the first period, it would be Coulson Pitre (22) who would put the Firebirds on the board first. The mark from the 2023 NHL Draft prospect would be the only goal of the opening frame. Before the period came to an end, Erie would head to the man-advantage for a hooking call against Kaden Pitre, and would carry :49 of power play time into the second. After 20, Flint would lead 1-0, outshooting Erie 10-7.
With a successfully killed-off penalty to start the second period, Flint would convert the momentum into a goal just under three minutes in from Zacharie Girioux (20) to put the Firebirds up 2-0. Maintaining pressure in the offensive end, Flint would strike for their second goal of the period and third of the game from Dmitry Kuzmin (13) just under 11 minutes into the frame. As the period came to an end, the Otters would be unable to convert on their second power play, and go into the period break with a 3-0 deficit. Erie would outshoot Flint in the second period 8-6, but trail in the game 16-15.
Four minutes into the third period, Flint would extend its lead to 4-0 as Dmitry Kuzmin (14) would earn his second goal of the night with a shot from the top of the right circle. As another power play opportunity would arise for Erie, once again the team would be unsuccessful in its man-advantage scoring opportunity. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Sam Alfano (14) and Liam Gilmartin would play spoil-sport for the Nathan Day, as the big-rig would redirect a shot-pass into the back of the net to make it a 4-1 game. Erie would outshoot Flint 25-21, but fall by three goals on the road.
Erie plays its final road game in the States on Thursday night, traveling to Saginaw for the final meeting of the season with the Saginaw Spirit. Erie will then travel home to face tonight’s foe, the Firebirds, on Saturday evening for OFFICE TRIBUTE NIGHT (pres. by Printing Concepts) / ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION, featuring Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer; The Office) for an exclusive meet-and-greet. The first 1000 fans through the door will receive a free “World’s Best Hockey Fan” Coffee Mug (pres. by Printing Concepts).
