Game Preview: Spirit Start Final Road Trip in Guelph Friday Night
March 9, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release
Guelph, ON. - On Friday evening, the Saginaw Spirit (28-26-8-0, 64 points, 4th in West Division) hit the road to face the Guelph Storm (28-26-5-4, 65 points, 4th in Midwest Division) at Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ontario. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. with live radio coverage beginning at 7:15 on 100.5 WSGW-FM and www.fmtalk1005.com.
The Saginaw Spirit snapped a pesky six-game winless streak on Sunday evening with a 5-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves at The Dow Event Center. The victory sealed the 12th playoff berth for the Spirit in the last 13 seasons.
Overage defenseman Marcus Crawford inched closer to becoming the franchise's all-time leader in assists from that position with a three-assist night, while fellow overager Mason Kohn also picked up three assists in the win. Goal-scoring leader Cole Coskey scored two goals on the evening (25,26) and New Jersey Devils prospect Evan Cormier stopped 30 shots from the Wolves en route to his 23rd win of the season.
The Storm last played on Wednesday night in a divisional battle with the London Knights at Budweiser Gardens.
The Storm held a 2-1 lead in the second period once Philadelphia Flyers prospect Isaac Ratcliffe scored his 38th goal of the season. The OHL's defensive scoring leader Evan Bouchard tied the game for the Knights at 16:53 of the 3rd period and Cole Tymkin's 8th goal of the season provided the insurance putting the Knights ahead for the first time in the game just 1:04 later.
Alex Formenton and Liam Foudy added empty net goals en route to the Knights 5-2 triumph over the Storm in front of 8,903 fans at Budweiser Gardens.
The Storm have won the first three games of the four-game season series with the Spirit. The last victory came on Feb. 9 at Sleeman Centre. The Spirit dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime with Isaac Ratcliffe scoring the game-winning goal. The other games in the season series included a Guelph 2-1 win in Saginaw on Oct. 21, 2017 and a 6-3 Guelph win in Saginaw on Sept. 30, 2017.
Tonight marks the 68th regular season meeting between the Spirit and the Storm with Saginaw posting a 25-33-3-2 record all-time against the Storm and a 9-18-3-1 record on the road.
For tickets and more information:
Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information. YOUR Region. YOUR team. YOU'RE invited.
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