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OHL Saginaw Spirit

McLeod Scores Overtime Winner to Give Spirit 2-0 Series Advantage

April 20, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit celebrate Ryan McLeod's game-winning goal
Saginaw Spirit celebrate Ryan McLeod's game-winning goal
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit take Game Two of the Western Conference Finals with a 4-3 overtime thriller Saturday evening in front of 5,605 fans at The Dow Event Center.

Edmonton Oilers second-rounder Ryan McLeod was honored with first-star honors after an overtime goal to end the game.

New York Islanders signee Bode Wilde tied the game late in regulation with a power play tally.

Florida Panthers first-rounder Owen Tippett was given second-star honors with a two-assist effort.

The Western Conference Championship series shifts to Guelph, Ontario for Game Three Monday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Tippett nearly gave Saginaw an early lead three minutes into the first period. After the right-winger received a pass to enter the zone, Tippett took a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that was just fought off by Storm goaltender Anthony Popovich's glove.

The Spirit had several chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the game. Jake Goldowski set up 2019 NHL Draft prospect Camaryn Baber for a sharp-angled, one-timer that was stopped by Popovich.

Arizona Coyotes draft pick Ivan Prosvetov made two huge saves in the first period to keep the game tied. The post-season's leading scorer Nick Suzuki breakaway deke was denied by a sprawled out Prosvetov.

Philadelphia Flyers second-rounder Isaac Ratcliffe's rebound after the Suzuki breakaway attempt was stopped by a quick glove by the Russian goaltender.

Saginaw had most of the scoring chances in the first period of play and outshot the Storm, 20-7 through the first frame. Despite the shot discrepancy in the first period, the two teams went into the first intermission scoreless.

The Spirit found the back of the net exactly four minutes into the second period with Saginaw captain Damien Giroux's seventh goal of the post-season. Tippett's wrist shot from the left circle bounced off the glass behind the net and fell just to the right of the Guelph crease.

Giroux jumped on the rebound and backhanded the puck into the open net for a 1-0 Saginaw Spirit lead.

After a mix-up at the Spirit blue-line, Guelph's Ratcliffe and Suzuki was all alone in the Saginaw zone. The Storm captain Ratcliffe slid a pass over for the Montreal Canadiens prospect Suzuki to tip through Prosvetov's five-hole at 5:50 of the second period.

Rookie Cole Perfetti gave Saginaw back the one-goal lead with just 4:52 left in the second period. Detroit Red Wings draft pick Brady Gilmour hit Saginaw's standout rookie with a perfect pass in the slot. Perfetti sniped a wrist shot under Popovich's glove and went in off the right-post for the goal.

Perfetti, the 2018 fifth overall pick of the Saginaw Spirit, has three goals and five points through two games in the Western Conference Finals.

Saginaw alternate captain Gilmour has 13 assists in just 12 post-season games, which put him into a tie for third in the OHL in this year's playoffs.

The Spirit scored twice for a 2-1 second period lead even though they mustered just four shots to Guelph's 16 second period shots.

Prosvetov continued his strong play early in the third period after a Domenico Commisso one-timer attempt was fought off by the Moscow, Russia native's blocker.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect MacKenzie Entwistle nearly evened the score midway through the third period. Entwistle knocked the puck out of mid-air in the slot and ricocheted off the crossbar into the corner.

After Justin Murray was called for a five-minute check-to-the-head penalty, Ratcliffe tied the game for the Guelph Storm. After a point shot by Los Angeles Kings prospect Sean Durzi trickled to the right of the crease, Ratcliffe pushed the puck into the Spirit net.

With Guelph still on the man-power advantage, Markus Phillips gave the Storm their first lead of the hockey game 14 minutes into the third period. Phillips took a quick wrist shot from the top of the slot that beat Prosvetov for a 3-2 Guelph lead.

After a game misconduct penalty charged to Prosvetov, Rookie Tristan Lennox replaced the Russian net-minder for the remainder of the game.

While on a man-power advantage and with the Saginaw net empty, New York Islanders second-rounder Bode Wilde scored to bring the Spirit back even. Tippett slid a pass over to the Saginaw defenseman at the point for the one-timer, in to the roof of the net to send Game Two into overtime.

Guelph outshot Saginaw, 35-31 after 60 minutes of play.

Tippett nearly ended the game early in overtime on a one-on-one rush against a Guelph defender. The Spirit right-winger used the defenseman as a screen and took a wrist shot that Popovich fought off with his trapper.

Just a minute later, Saginaw left-winger Perfetti set-up Gilmour with a one-timer from the right circle that clanked off the crossbar.

2018 Edmonton Oilers 40th overall pick Ryan McLeod finished the Storm off in Game Two with a amazing individual effort 6:52 into overtime. The Saginaw center split the Guelph defense and roofed a shot over Popovich for the goals.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Ryan McLeod (SAG) G, A +2

Owen Tippett (SAG) 2A, +2

Damien Giroux (SAG) G, +1

The Spirit will look to continue the playoff success as the Western Conference Finals shifts to Guelph, Ontario for Game Three Monday, April 22. Puck drop from the Sleeman Centre is set for 7:00 p.m.

Fans can follow all the action on the flagship 100.5 Newsradio WSGW and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. "Countdown to Face-off" begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop for all your pregame coverage.

Fans can also watch the game live from the Saginaw Spirit "Watch Party" from the 2690 Tittabawassee Road Buffalo Wild Wings location.

If necessary, the Saginaw Spirit will return home Saturday, April 20 for Game Five of the Western Conference Finals at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for Game Five *if necessary* at The Dow Event Center Friday, April 26 are on sale now at saginawspirit.com, on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. at The Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street in Saginaw and at ticketmaster.com.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit celebrate Ryan McLeod's game-winning goal
Saginaw Spirit celebrate Ryan McLeod's game-winning goal
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2019


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