Preview: Spirit Rekindle Rivalry with Firebirds on Student Rush Night
February 3, 2016 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release
SAGINAW, MI - On Wednesday night, the Saginaw Spirit (20-25-2-2 44 points, 4th West Division) host the Flint Firebirds (14-28-3-2 33 points, 5th West Division) in the seventh of eight meetings in the inaugural season of the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup Rivalry Series. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
After a win Friday night in the Soo, the Spirit dropped two home games to Kitchener (2-1) and Guelph (4-2) to finish out this past weekend. The Spirit finished the month of January with a 4-8-0-1 record, remaining in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, 11 points ahead of the stumbling Flint Firebirds.
Flint is mired in a 15-game winless streak. The Firebirds last win came on December 18, 2015 in Oshawa, when they downed the defending Memorial Cup Champs by a 4-1 score. The Firebirds are led in goals, assists, and points by Center Will Bitten. The 5'10, 167 pound Gloucester, Ontario native is ranked 42nd among North American Skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings. Detroit Red Wings Prospect Vili Saarijarvi leads all Flint rearguards with 10 goals, 27 points, and a +10 rating.
Head-to-Head:
The series between the Firebirds and the Spirit has been even throughout the inaugural season of the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup series.
Flint 4 @ Saginaw 8 (Dec 16 2015) Final
Saginaw 4 @ Flint 3 (Dec 4 2015) Final SO
Saginaw 2 @ Flint 4 (Nov 25 2015) Final
Flint 3 @ Saginaw 5 (Oct 28 2015) Final
Saginaw 2 @ Flint 3 (Sep 26 2015) Final SO
Flint 3 @ Saginaw 0 (Sep 24 2015) Final
It comes down to the final two games to decide which city will get the Cup and the bragging rights heading into next season. Matthew Kreis and Artem Artemov have been the top performers against Flint this season netting ten and eight points respectively for the Spirit. Evan Cormier has started in all six games against Flint this season, posting a 3-2-0-1 record. Defenseman Mathieu Henderson has been the top performer for Flint against the Spirit, with a goal and six assists. The Spirit have won the last two matchups, including an 8-4 triumph over the Firebirds on December 16th at The Dow Event Center.
Broadcast Information:
Spirit fans can catch radio broadcasts on WSGW 100.5 FM, www.fmtalk1005.com , and the FM Talk 100.5 App in the App Store or Google Play with the voices of Spirit Hockey, Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers. For a full TV Broadcast schedule, Click Here.
Tonight is a Student Rush night with $5 discounted tickets available to students with proper identification. There will also be $2 Jet's Pizza Slices and $2 beer in the Bud Light Blue Line Club and $2 Pepsi products at all concessions stands.
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2016
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- Flint Wins Overtime Thriller in Saginaw for I-75 Divide Cup Lead - Flint Firebirds
- Sting Down Rangers in OT - Sarnia Sting
- Sting Slip Past Rangers in OT - Kitchener Rangers
- Spirit Come up Short in 4-3 Overtime Loss to Firebirds - Saginaw Spirit
- Sexagenarian Butler on Points, Cake, Icing - North Bay Battalion
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- OHL Announces Disciplinary Action - OHL
- OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for January - OHL
- CHL Announces BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings - OHL
- OHL and CMHA Ontario Team up this Month to Raise Awareness about Mental Health - OHL
- Barrett Mundell Commits to the Oshawa Generals - Oshawa Generals
- Preview: Battle for I-75 Divide Cup Heats up Wednesday Night - Flint Firebirds
- DiPietro Named Precision Jewellers Player of the Month - Windsor Spitfires
- Preview: Spirit Rekindle Rivalry with Firebirds on Student Rush Night - Saginaw Spirit
- Mainstreet Presents DIFD Game February 13 - Sarnia Sting
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