Jon Maillet For the Journal
Zacharie Giroux and Nolan Dann had a goal and an assist each for the Flint Firebirds, while Jacob Brown made 22 saves in his first career OHL win, as Flint downed Sarnia 6-4 Friday night at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
The win not only snapped the Firebirds’ four-game losing streak, but was also Paul Flache’s first win as head coach.
Sarnia rookie Ryan Brown scored twice; he now has six points in six games, while Tyson Doucette scored his fifth of the season — a new career season high.
Nick Surzycia got the start in net for Sarnia, and had a busy night at the office. Surzycia faced 40 shots, turning away 34 as the Sting are now 3-3-0 this season.
The Firebirds scored just under two minutes into the game, setting the tone for the first period, and adding two more before the first intermission. Nathan Aspinall, Kaden Pitre and Ethan Hay all scored for Flint. Aspinall and Hay each with their first of the season; Pitre now has four goals this season.
Brown would score twice for the Sting in a span of about three minutes in the second period; the rookie forward now has three goals and six points this season. Later in the second, Doucette would tie the game at 3-3 with his career season high, fifth goal. Less than a minute later, Sarnia would go up 4-3 on a goal from Zack Filak, his second this season.
That lead however would be short lived, as the Firebirds would tie it 4-4 when former Sting Nolan Dann scored his first of the season, less than two minutes later.
That would be as close as the Sting would get, as Flint would get third period goals from Giroux — his first of the season — and Gavin Hayes would add an empty netter to make it 6-4, for his first goal as well, as the Firebirds held on to the win.
Flint outshot Sarnia 41-26, and neither team scored on the powerplay.
Sting are back in action Saturday, hosting the London Knights at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Tickets are available online at sarniasting.com, or at the box office.
Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.