OHL Saginaw Spirit

Knights Top Line Combines for 11 Points in 8-5 Loss to London

Published on March 18, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


London, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (18-37-1-0) once again gave the top team in the Midwest Division all they could handle Friday night, but came out on the short end of an 8-5 score in 8,959 fans at Budweiser Gardens.

The Spirit got off to a great start in front of the large crowd. Overage forward Nick Wong carried the puck off of the left wing boards and skated to the middle of the ice, before snapping in his 17th goal of the season. Pavel Mintyukov and Ian Phillips picked up assists on the Wong goal at 2:28. London's fourth line answered at 5:43 when Ruslan Gazizov scored his eighth goal of the season on a one-timer from the right circle, beating Spirit netminder Andrew Oke. At 9:42, Sean McGurn put the Knights in a 2-1 lead on his 18th goal of the season. Like Evangelista and Antonio Stranges picked up the assists to begin another big night for London's top forward line against the Spirit. Coming off the media timeout, the Spirit tied the game at 2-2 when Matyas Sapovaliv let a quick shot go from the left circle, beating Owen Willmore. His 15th goal of the season was assisted by fellow import Pavel Mintyukov. The score remained 2-2 through the conclusion of the period. London outshot the Spirit 11-8 in the opening frame.

In the middle frame, Luke McNamara continued his strong play of late with his third goal in the last three games to put Saginaw in a 3-2 lead at 6:20. His goal was assisted by Sapovaliv and Dalton Duhart. London was quick to respond. After a penalty to Pavel Mintyukov, Dallas Stars prospect Antonio Stranges went end-to-end and scored to tie the game again. The goal seemed to galvanize the London group, who took the lead just 1:01 later on a goal from former Spirit captain Camaryn Baber. Baber deflected in a Jackson Edward pass up over the shoulder of Oke to make it 4-3. Just 2:11 after the Baber goal, Stranges struck again for his 27th goal of the season, beating Oke on the blocker side. Oke was pulled in relief of Brett Fullerton after the Knights took a 5-3 lead. Fullerton held down the fort for the rest of the second period and the Spirit trailed 5-3 as we headed to the third period.

The Spirit earned their second power play of the game at 4:52 of the final frame and made the most of it thanks to Calem Mangone. Playing is his first game since Feb. 2 due to an upper body injury, Mangone lit the lamp to close the London lead to one goal again. Sapovaliv and Duhart drew the helpers on Mangone's 12th of the season. 35 seconds later, Nashville Predators prospect Luke Evangelista scored his 48th goal of the season to London right back up by two goals. Still, the Spirit bounced right back and scored 39 seconds later on a goal from project 2022 first round NHL draft pick Pavel Mintyukov. Brayden Hislop and Josh Bloom collected assists on Mintyukov's 13th goal of the season, making the score 6-5. With the Spirit in the penalty box, London's Tye McSorley scored his third goal of the season, once from Stranges and Evangelista at 11:31. The Knights added an empty net goal from Gerard Keane to make it an 8-6 score.

Saginaw returns home Saturday night to face the Soo Greyhounds for Ascension Trauma Night. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2022


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