The first-ever OHL playoff clash between the Flint Firebirds and Saginaw Spirit will come down to Game 7 tonight at the Dow Event Center.
Trailing 2-0 and 3-1 in the series, the Firebirds have continued to battle their way back, with their most recent victory coming on a Coulson Pitre overtime winner on Saturday night in Flint.
The Firebirds have been the superior team in the face-off circle to this point in the series, with Ethan Hay operating at 61.8 percent and Zacharie Giroux running at a 68.2 percent clip. The Spirit will boast home ice advantage tonight, though Saginaw was one of just five OHL teams this season to have more success on the road than they did at home.
Tonight marks the third Game 7 in Firebirds franchise history after a first round victory over the Owen Sound Attack last spring followed by a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of the Windsor Spitfires in the Western Conference Championship Series.
The Spirit endured a Western Conference Championship Series Game 7 heartbreaker of their own in 2019, dropping a 3-2 decision to the eventual OHL champion Guelph Storm on home ice.
Tonight marks the 15th meeting of the season between Saginaw and Flint, with the Spirit having won eight of the prior 14 contests.
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler returns to the Flint lineup tonight, making his series debut having missed action since Mar. 24th.
See tonight’s matchup when the puck drops at 7:00pm on OHL Live.
WE’VE GOT GAME SEVEN ON MONDAY NIGHT! 😱#NHLDraft prospect Coulson Pitre completes the comeback for the @FlintFirebirds in overtime and there will be a Game 7 Monday night in Saginaw to decide the series!#OHLPlayoffs | #SAGvsFLNT pic.twitter.com/gu3z0y5chX
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 9, 2023
