Thanks to a plummeting Arlington team, Firebird is rising almost like a phoenix in Trail Commercial Hockey League standings.
Firebird fluttered out of the basement thanks to four wins and two ties in its last 10 games, one of which was a 4-3 victory over Allstar Maintenance Thursday, while Arlington bottomed out having only won once in its last 10 games, that included another 6-3 loss to OK Tire last Thursday.
While the teams have the same number of points, 17, Firebird has the advantage with one game in hand.
Eric Hill scored what would stand up as the winning goal with just 50 seconds remaining in regulation to put Firebird up 4-2 over Allstar. A goal 12 seconds later by Allstar’s Layne Stopanski would tighten the difference, yet Firebird managed to hang on, avenging a 10-1 drubbing to the Stars two weeks earlier.
Gord Aiken scored twice in the opening frame to give the Firebird a 2-1 lead heading into the second before Stopanski tied it late in the period. Firebird’s leading scorer Craig Clair regained the advantage for the Bird, notching his 17th of the season 2:36 into the third to make it 3-2, before Hill would ice it.
In OK Tire’s 6-3 win over Arlington, the peerless Dennis Podovennikoff scored his first of two on the night, rippling the twine for the winner at 6:05 of the second period to give Tire a 4-1 lead. OK Tire opened the scoring early when Shawn Venturini converted a nice setup from Shane Drake and Darrin Williams.
Nathan Ehman would tie it three minutes into the middle frame, but consecutive second-period goals from the Tire’s Kyle Boutin, Justin Adrian, and Podovennikoff would put the game out of reach. Mike Fudge and Podovennikoff rounded out the scoring in the third, while Mike Makway and Kris Davis replied for the Big A.
In other TCHL action last week Re/Max retained a tight grip on top spot with an 11-9 win over Allstar, and OK Tire hung on to second spot with another 6-3 victory over Arlington.
TCHL action continues tonight when Fire Bird takes on Arlington at 7:15 p.m. and OK Tire faces off against the Allstars.