Flint Firebirds hand London Knights first loss of the season

Jimmy Lombardi scored a goal and added four assists as the Flint Firebirds downed the London Knights 7-2 at Canada Life Place on Oct. 4.

The loss by the Knights was their first in 2026-27. London's best starts in the past 30 years have been stopped at 4-0 on three other occasions as well in 2003-04, 2011-12 and 2021-22.

The Firebirds were coming off a 3-2 defeat on home ice a night earlier against Sault Ste. Marie and the quick turnaround may have been the elixir for Flint's sluggish starts to games this season.

They had been outscored in three of the four first periods before their game in London and had given up three or more goals in each of those games.

Lombardi scored 29 seconds into the game and then helped to set up former Elgin-Middlesex Canucks defenceman Lucas Nutting less than six minutes later for Nutting's second career goal and first in his hometown and the Firebirds led 2-0.

Flint's power play went 3-for7 and the Firebirds held the London off the board on the man advantage in six opportunities.

New York Rangers prospect Darian Anderson struck at 9:00 on a Firebirds PP and made the hill too high for the Knights.

Thomas Zocco tipped in a Caleb Mitchell shot from the blue line 22 seconds after that but an early third period goal short-handed by Charlie Murata and Cole Giuzzetti's first career goal had the Firebirds ahead 5-1.

Brian Cooke replaced Aleksei Medvedev in goal and that led to a London goal 35 seconds later as Cohen Bidgood found Juho Piiparinen in the slot for his first career goal in the Ontario Hockey League.

Power play goals by Murata and Luka Graziano finished the scoring.

The teams began the day as two of the best clubs on faceoffs this season.

London won 33 of 56 draws on the day.

The Firebirds outshot the Knights 35-24.