Six Petes Score in Dousing of Firebirds
The Peterborough Petes earned their third straight win, and second of their Western Conference road trip, as they doused the Firebirds 6-2 in Flint on Saturday night.
For the third straight game it was the crew clad in cream that opened scoring. Captain and Detroit Red Wings prospect Zach Gallant netted his 11th of the season at 4:34 after taking a stretch pass from Winnipeg Jets draftee Declan Chisholm.
GALLY! @chis_decs shows off his silky skating to find @zachgally! Great finish by the captain. 1-0 Petes!#GoPetesGo | #LGRW | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/fyqA6P6gap
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
The Firebirds were able to even up the score at the end of a power play with Michael Little in the box for high sticking. At 13:35 Peterborough’s defencemen were caught flatfooted as Flint broke into the zone with Jack Wismer and Ethan Keppen connecting with Cody Morgan, tying the game at 1.
The blue, orange, and grey would take their only lead of the game 2:30 later when Port Perry native and Dallas Stars prospect Ty Dellandrea went end to end and fired a sharp-angle shot past Hunter Jones. Hunter Holmes and Riley McCourt collected the go-ahead goal’s assists.
Flint’s lead was short lived, though, as the pair of Adam Timleck and Chisholm passed the puck through the neutral zone before finding Chris Paquette trailing in the slot. Paquette’s 27th of the campaign came at 18:58.
PAQ!! @chis_decs and @AdamTimleck give-and-go at the blue line before dishing to @Chris_paquette9 in the slot and he goes roof over Vella! 2-2 game!#GoPetesGo | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/KJ7CtXvpW5
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
The cross conference clubs headed to their rooms with game stats fairly balanced through 20 minutes of play.
All tied up here in The Vehicle City!#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/2PRPNi92io
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
It was all Petes in the second as the maroon and white added three goals through the frame.
With Dennis Busby charged with tripping, Peterborough’s power players went to work. They converted on their first man advantage of the evening when future Toronto Maple Leaf Semyon Der-Arguchintsev threaded the puck across Flint’s zone to Paquette, setting up Michael Little’s one-timer for his 10th of the year at 1:58.
LITTS! It’s a tic-tac-GOAL as SDA and @Chris_paquette9 combine before @mlittle00 puts the puck over Vella’s blocker on the power play! 3-2 Petes!#GoPetesGo | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/hCCrLq3uHD
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
Liam Kirk added the 21st goal of his first OHL season at 13:04, demonstrating patience in the slot after taking a pass from the duo of rookie Cameron Butler and Der-Arguchintsev to extend Peterborough’s lead to 4-2.
KIRKY 🇬🇧 WHOOSH IT’S BEHIND YOU! @kirky_1424 with some patience as he skates into the slot to beat Vella! @CButler_21 with the assist. 4-2 Petes!#GoPetesGo | #OurPack pic.twitter.com/kua0wlNxs3
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
Overage forward Timleck also netted his 21st fifth-year marker with help from Paquette and Chisholm, increasing Flint’s deficit to three goals at 15:25.
TIMMER!! @Chris_paquette9 sneaks the puck to @AdamTimleck on the doorstep. It’s 5-2 Petes!#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/rTzYD29b7i
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
The Petes more than doubled their first period shot production, throwing 15 shots at Vella to Flint’s 5 on Jones.
Having fun in Flint! Three Petes have multiple points in this one after 40 minutes.#GoPetesGo pic.twitter.com/Rd27iWJwbq
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
Peterborough’s 6-2 win was solidified with Chad Denault’s third goal in two games. The Iroquois Falls native was parked in front of Vella to redirect Matt McNamara’s snap shot from the side boards, with Chisholm adding yet another assist on the evening at 7:08.
CHADSY! @Denault17 tips @mattmcnamara23‘s shot past Vella! @chis_decs gets his fourth helper, it’s 6-2 Petes!#GoPetesGo | #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/NcJErOCxXa
— Peterborough Petes (@PetesOHLhockey) March 3, 2019
A blindside hit on Brady Hinz resulted in some extracurricular activity between Gallant and Keppen and an ensuing five minute power play for Flint, but Peterborough’s penalty killers held the Firebirds off.
Final shots were 33-25 in favour of the visiting Petes, with Jones making 23 saves.
Chisholm, Paquette, and Timleck were named the game’s first, second, and third stars, respectively. Chisholm’s four assists mark a career high for the third year defenceman.
The Petes wrap up their Western Conference road trip with a visit to the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday, March 3 at 5:3opm. They’ll return home next Thursday March 7 to play the Kingston Frontenacs once again. It’s a 7:05pm start. Tickets are available through the Baker Tilly Box Office in person, over the phone at (705) 743-3561, and online.
Help the Petes push for playoff positioning with a Playoff Push Flex Pack! For just $69.99 (tax included), fans will receive four regular bowl tickets, four popcorns, and four pops for any Petes home game in February or March. The regular price of this package is $125, which means fans save $55 on the special offer. Contact Mike at (705) 743-3681 x 263.
