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Saginaw Spirit

Mancini Scores OT Winner in 4-3 Win Over Steelheads

October 29, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (6-5-1-0) defeated the Mississauga Steelheads (7-3-1-0) Saturday, October 29, by a final score of 4-3 in Overtime at the Dow Event Center in Riverfront Saginaw, Michigan.

This is the first time that brothers Michael and Luke Misa played each other this season, but it was Vegas Golden Knights prospect Matyas Sapovaliv who shined with a goal and two assists.

The game opened with Tristan Lennox making two back-to-back saves with under 60 seconds gone.

Mississauga put on some pressure as they held the puck in Saginaw's zone for two minutes.

The Spirit got a chance to try out their powerplay when James Hardie was called for holding at 4:56 in the first period. Saginaw was unable to score on the chance.

Theo Hill took a hooking penalty at 9:45 in the first frame but Saginaw was able to kill it off.

Halfway through the first frame, the game was scoreless, and the Steelheads led in shots, 5-1.

Lennox made a flurry of saves with seven minutes remaining to keep the game scoreless.

With five minutes left in the opening frame, the game was still scoreless, and the Steelheads led in shots, 8-1.

T-Bone Codd took a holding penalty with 43 seconds remaining in the first period and continued into the second period.

The first period ended scoreless, and Mississauga leading in shots, 10-2.

The second period opened with Saginaw on the penalty kill and the Spirit successfully killing off the penalty.

Mississauga took a delay of game penalty at 2:11 in the second frame, and Saginaw capitalized on the opportunity with a powerplay goal at 4:03. Matyas Sapovalliv scored his eighth of the season after Sebastien Gervais passed to him from the left side. Mitchell Smith also assisted on the play.

The Steelheads answered back quickly at 5:00 in the second period. Luke Misa stole the puck from a Saginaw skater in the neutral zone and passed to Owen Beck who put the puck past Lennox for his seventh of the season.

The Spirit wasted no time in regaining the lead with a goal at 5:58 in the middle period. Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov potted his sixth of the season after Dean Loukus shot the puck off Ryerson Leenders. Overager Theo Hill passed to Loukus to setup the shot.

Halfway through the middle period, Saginaw led 2-1 and the Steelheads led in shots, 18-9.

Saginaw got another chance to use their powerplay after Zander Veccia took a holding penalty at 11:19 in the middle frame. Saginaw was unable to score on the opportunity.

The Spirit took a roughing penalty at in the period and Mississauga scored on the chance at 16:19 of the second frame. Zakary Lavoie got his eighth of the season after Owen Beck passed to him from the right side of the offensive zone for the goal. James Hardie gave the puck to Beck to start the play.

The second period ended with a 2-2 tie and the Steelheads leading shots, 22-11.

The third period started with Saginaw keeping the puck in Mississauga's' zone and taking several shots. Mitchell Smith had a breakaway chance three minutes in but was stopped by Leenders. Mississauga pressured Saginaw's defense with several long possessions for the next few minutes.

Tristan Lennox manned the crease for Saginaw, making 23 saves on 26 shots. Ryerson Leenders started for Mississauga, making 22 saves on 18 shots.

The Steelheads got a chance to go on the man advantage after Brayden Hislop took a slashing penalty at 9:06 and took the lead with a goal at 10:13 in the final frame. Zander Veccia scored his second of the season after deflecting a shot from Chas Sharpe. Charlie Callaghan gifted the puck to Sharpe to setup the goal.

Saginaw got a two-man advantage after Mississauga committed two hooking penalties and scored at 13:50 in the third period. Pavel Mintyukov got his second point of the night after passing to Matyas Sapovaliv. Josh Bloom scored the goal on the right side after the pass to tie the game at three apiece.

With two minutes left in the final frame, Saginaw went on the man advantage after Ethan Del Mastro committed a slashing penalty but neither team was able to score, and the game went to overtime.

In overtime, the Spirit scored 52 seconds in to win the game. Roberto Mancini scored the game winner by batting it in after Matyas Sapovaliv shot the puck for a rebound. Mitchell Smith got his second assist by passing to Sapovaliv.

The game ended in overtime with Saginaw winning 4-3 and the Steelheads leading shots, 26-22.

With the win, Saginaw improves to 6-5-1-0 on the season. This is their second win in overtime this season.

The Spirit stay home as they host the Oshawa Generals Sunday, October 30, at the Dow Event Center in Riverfront Saginaw, Michigan. Puck drop is at 5:30 p.m. Sunday's game is the Annual Pink Out game presented by Ascension St. Mary's. There is a light up wand give-a-way and the Spirit will be wearing a special Pink Out jersey during the game, which will be auctioned off live post-game.

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