A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as just two New York Rangers prospects were in action on Wednesday night. The hottest of Ranger prospects Nathan Aspinall earned first star of the game honors for the fourth time in his last six games after his second four-point performance (2-2-4) in his last 11 days.
The captain of the Flint Firebirds helped his team win their OHL best 10th straight game with a 5-4 win over their archrival Saginaw Spirit. Aspinall extended his own personal scoring streak to six games (9-7-16) as he is rocketing up the OHL scoring leaderboard.
Here is how he did it courtesty of the Firebirds media department:
Aspinall opened the scoring early in the first period. He got a pass up the boards from Darian Anderson, carried the puck into Saginaw’s zone and beat the Spirit’s Stepan Shurygin five-hole to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead.
🚨Nathan Aspinall
🍎Darian Anderson
🍎Dryden Allen pic.twitter.com/WdO4PUkaqy— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 27, 2025
The goal was Aspinall’s 16th and it was an even strength goal at 3:16 of the first period. But after Saginaw had tied up the game and still in the first period, Aspinall gave his team a 2-1 lead.
He again received a pass from Anderson and took it into the Spirit’s zone. Aspinall sent his shot trickling through Shurygin’s legs.
🚨Nathan Aspinall
🍎Darian Anderson pic.twitter.com/3hnqgcXzEe— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 27, 2025
Goal # 17 was also an even strength goal as he is now just one goal away from tying his career best of 18 set two seasons ago. But Aspinall was still not done as point number three was the only assist on linemate Jimmy Lombardi’s breakaway goal. Somehow Aspinall got the puck past two Saginaw defenders to spring Lombardi.
🚨Jimmy Lombardi
🍎Nathan Aspinall pic.twitter.com/36xOyCB0uo— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 27, 2025
Another even strength goal for the Firebirds as this one at 19:45 of the second period made it a 4-1 lead. But the last point was the most important as Saginaw had rallied to tie the game at 4-4. This time Flint was on the power play and after carrying the puck all over the offensive zone, Aspinall fired a shot that Jimmy Lombardi deflected into the Saginaw net for what proved to be the game winning goal.
🚨Jimmy Lombardi
🍎Nathan Aspinall
🍎Urban Podrekar pic.twitter.com/Z3qcbWihjV— Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) November 27, 2025
So Aspinall’s night by the numbers:
2-2-4 on five shots with a +1 and a minor penalty for roughing
Aspinall is now 17-19-36 which not only leads all Rangers prospects in goals and points, is also fourth overall in the OHL in points, third overall in goals scored, and first in first goals (six).
The win over the Spirit clinched the I-75 Cup for the Firebirds as they are 5-0 over the Spirit this season. The 10th straight win improved the Firebirds to 18-6-1 on the season which is second in the OHL’s West Division two points behind division and Western Conference leader Windsor (Flint holds game in hand).
Sean Barnhill was scoreless as his third-ranked Michigan State Spartans defeated Colgate 5-2 in non-conference play. Barnhill who was the right side of the third defensive pair did not record a single stat for his team.
Barnhill was the Rangers third round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is a 6’6 215 lb monster of a defenseman. He is a righthanded shot who even though he is a bigger player, he has pretty good footwork .
Very much the stay-at-home defenseman who makes it easier for his partner to go on the attack knowing that Barnhill is there to cover for him. For a guy 6’6, he is able to defend well and stay out of the penalty box as he has just three minors in 13 games.
What is scary is that Barnhill is just 18 and a freshman which makes him an interesting prospect to keep an eye on.
