Early Deficit Too Much for Spirit in London
Published on December 8, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release
Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa on game night
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Adam Zawacki)
London, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (16-9-0-1) fell to the London Knights (17-10-0-1) on Friday, December 8th, at the Budweiser Gardens by a score of 7-3. Hunter Haight, Alex Christopoulos, and Rodwin Dionicio each picked up goals in the loss. Andrew Oke started in net for the Spirit and made 13 saves on 17 shots before being replaced by Nolan Lalonde who stopped 16 of 19. Michael Simpson started for the Knights and made 19 saves on 22 shots on goal.
Joey Willis was called for a hooking penalty just 1:13 into the first period, giving the London Knights their first power play opportunity of the night. The Knights took advantage of the opportunity when Easton Cowan passed to Denver Barkey, then on to Kasper Halttunen. Halttunen instantly took a shot from the right faceoff circle, sending the puck right between Andrew Oke's legs and into the net. This goal gave London an early 1-0 lead over Saginaw with 18:10 left in the first period.
With 10:26 left, the Knights struck again. Jacob Julien took the puck up ice, instantly passing the puck to Ruslan Gazizov after he crossed the blue line. His cross-ice pass was intended for Denver Barkey but pawed down by Andrew Oke. Barkey hung around for the rebound and was able to just tip the puck in behind Oke to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
With 7:14 remaining in the first period, the Knights notched another goal. Sam O'Reilly wrapped around the back of the Spirits net to make a short pass to Jackson Edward. Edward took a shot on goal from behind the left faceoff circle but the puck ricochet off of Easton Cowan's stick, right past Andrew Okes head. Cowan was credited for the goal which extended London's lead to 3-0 over Saginaw.
With 6:30 left in the first period, Saginaw's Dean Loukus received a holding call and would be sent to the penalty box. Jacob Julien threw a puck that bounced between the wickets of Andrew Oke for the 4-0 lead, ending Oke's night after 13 saves on 17 shots.
With 5:31 left in the first period, Saginaw was able to get on the board. After receiving a short pass from Hunter Haight, Rodwin Dionicio took the puck just a foot away from the blue line when he fired a shot toward the goal. The puck sailed right past Michael Simpson's head to make the score now 4-1.
The Knights soon responded with another goal. Oliver Bonk made a long pass to William Nicholl in the neutral zone with Nicholl racing up ice. Landon Sim followed right beside him with only Will Bishop to stop them. Nicholl made a short, cross-ice pass to Landon Sim with Bishop attempting to break it up. Sim was able to get control and fire a shot past Lalonde to give London a 5-1 lead with 2:28 remaining in the first period.
With 1:53 left in the first, Saginaw was able to find another goal. Hunter Haight undressed a handful of London defenders to deke Michael Simpson and make it 5-2.
With only 3 seconds remaining in the first period, Rodwin Dionicio and Jackson Edward were sent to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties followed by Sam O'Reilly who was called for holding.
This concluded the first period with London in the lead, 5-2, over Saginaw as well as outshooting the Spirit, 19-7.
With 10:21 left in the second period, Easton Cowan broke up ice with Denver Barkey right beside him. Cowen made a short pass to Barkey between the inner hash marks with Barkey firing a shot toward goal. His second of the night gave the Knights 6-2 lead.
With 4:13 remaining in the second period, Matyas Sapovaliv got into a battle over the puck with three other London players on the board in the Knights zone. Sapovaliv won and instantly passed to Alex Christopoulos who was sitting right on the dot of the left faceoff circle. Christopoulos fired a shot into the upper left corner of the net, bringing Saginaw within three goals at 6-3.
The second period ended with London leading Saginaw 6-3 as well as outshooting the Spirit 26-16 (7-9 in the second period).
The Knights scored just 1:20 into the final period, with Isaiah George and Sam O'Reilly setting up Max McCue for the 7-3 lead. A handful of penalties in the game's final period were killed off and the score would go unchanged. Saginaw fell to the Knights for the first time this season.
The Spirit's next game will be against the Flint Firebirds, on Saturday, December 9th at the Dort Financial Center. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.
Images from this story
 Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa on game night (Adam Zawacki) |
Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2023
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- Bulldogs Capture 3rd Point of Weekend in 6-5 OT Loss - Brantford Bulldogs
- Early Deficit Too Much for Spirit in London - Saginaw Spirit
- Lefebvre Has Two Assists as Petes Beat Conference Leading 67's in Ottawa - Peterborough Petes
- Rangers Announce "Biz Night" on January 14th - Kitchener Rangers
- Rangers Start Home-And-Home Series with Out-Of-Conference Brantford Bulldogs Friday Night - Kitchener Rangers
- Wolves Acquire Goaltender Marcus Vandenberg - Sudbury Wolves
- Spirit Visit Knights in Friday Night Rematch - Saginaw Spirit
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