Teddy bear toss goal fails to ignite Frontenacs offence in loss to Firebirds

The worst PP in the OHL went scoreless in five opportunities.

Another good start by the Kingston Frontenacs was spoiled by their inability to score.

The team held their annual Teddy Bear Toss game and Tyler Hopkins got the 2,996 fans at Slush Puppie Place to toss their teddy bears on to the ice after scoring his 12th of the season 2:10 into the opening frame.

But it was the visiting Flint Firebirds who came away victorious in a 4-2 win Friday night handing the Frontenacs their eighth straight loss, their last six in regulation.

Alex Kostov scored 1:26 into the second period to tie the game up. Then Darian Anderson followed it up with a power play goal at the 8:13 mark.

The Kingston powerplay was dead last heading into the game and were 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

Head coach Troy Mann says the team can't seem to find the next gear.

Andrew Kuzma appeared to have given the Frontenacs (10-15-2-2) their second goal of the game at the 6:42 mark of the second but was waived off because of an offside after a video review.

Kingston did eventually tie the game at 2-2 late in the second on a goal by Aleks Kulemin.

Mann believed they had a chance to take control of the game in the third.

In the third, Kostov put his second of the game midway through the period to break the deadlock. Then with 1:21 left in regulation, Ihnat Pazii got a shot off from a sharp angle but the puck managed to get by Gavin Betts (20 saves) to put the Firebirds (20-7-1-1) up by two goals.

Betts was visibly upset at giving up that goal as it pretty much closed the door on a Kingston come back. Flint managed only three shots on goal in the final frame.

Mann says Betts' struggles in net this season go beyond his play.

Hopkins left the game with an injury and is expected to miss Saturday's game at home to the Barrie Colts. Defenseman Maleek McGowan was in the line up for the Frontenacs after missing the last four games with an injury.

Former Frontenacs goaltender Mason Vicarri made 24 saves in his first game back in Kingston since being traded by the Frontenacs in the off-season. Flint went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

Saturday's game against the Colts at Slush Puppie Place starts at 4 pm. Catch the action with Jim Gilchrist on Upper Canada Fuel and Burner Frontenacs Hockey on New Country 98.9.

Story by Ken Hashizume