The Sudbury Wolves took a trip down south Friday, to take on the Flint Firebirds at the Dort Federal Event Centre.
The pack spent the majority of the game playing catch-up to their southern hosts, who caught Sudbury off-guard with an early-game lead that ultimately led them to a 5-2 final.
Sudbury Wolves Blake Murray earned third star in the matchup, for delivering his sixth goal of the season and an assist to teammate Owen Robinson.
The Firebirds were the first to crack open the scoreboard, beating Sudbury's Mitchell Weeks 7:28 into the period. The goal was delivered by Vancouver Canucks prospect Ethan Keppen, with assistance from Cody Morgan.
He was followed to the pipes less than two minutes later by Flint's Jack Wismer, who scored his third goal of the season with assistance from Owen Sound born Connor Roberts. But the period was not over yet.
With less than a minute in play, Flint's Jack Phibbs brought the Firebirds lead to three with assistance from teammates Hunter Holmes and Dennis Busby, in what would be the game-winning goal.
The Wolves moved into second period down three, despite outshooting their hosts 12-10 in the first 20 minutes.
Both teams dropped their gloves in the second period, resulting in five minutes of penalty time for the Wolves and 11 minutes for Flint. Murray got Sudbury on the scoreboard in the heat of the action at 7:09, with assistance from fourth season Wolves centre, Owen Gilhula.
After a flurry of shots by the pack, Robinson managed to beat Flint's Anthony Popvich to reduce Sudbury's deficit by one. The 19-year-old was assisted in the play by Wolves' Macauley Carson and Murray.
The Wolves took 24 to the Firebirds 4 shots on goal in an attempt to even the scoreboard but remained in a deficit heading into the final frame.
Weeks returned to the net in the third period, after a short stint by Wolves Christian Purboo at 16:32 of the previous term.
Tempers flared back up in the final frame, resulting in the Wolves spending six minutes in the penalty box to the Firebirds four. But this action-packed period was just getting started.
Flint's Jake Durham brought the crowds attention back to the net at 7:14, delivering his eighth goal of the season with assistance from Riley McCourt and Dallas Stars prospect, Ty Dellandrea. Dellandrea returned to the net at 19:15, to deliver Flint's fifth and final goal on the empty net of the Wolves.
The Wolves once again outshot Flint 13-12 in the period, but ultimately fell to a score of 5-2. Final shots on goals 49-25 in favour of the pack.
The Sudbury Wolves are currently first in the Central Division, second in the Eastern Conference and third in the league overall.
The pack finishes their U.S tour at the Dow Event Centre tonight, facing off against the Saginaw Spirit for the first of two games this season.
