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Saginaw Spirit

Meijer Eagles Nest Notes: Spirit Wrap Up Regular Season With Three Games

March 10, 2010 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) It's down to the final week of the Ontario Hockey League regular season and the Spirit will close things out with three crucial games as the playoff picture is anything but clear. The Spirit will open the week on the road Wednesday night as they will conclude their season series with the Greyhounds in Sault Ste. Marie. Saginaw will face off in its final home game of the regular season campaign during Meijer Fan Appreciation Night by hosting a potential first round opponent in the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday night. Game 68 will come on the road as the Spirit will skate in Plymouth against the Whalers on Sunday afternoon.

Saginaw checks into the week fourth in the OHL's West Division and seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 32-27-4-2 and 70 points. The Spirit are three points behind fifth place Sault Ste. Marie and a single point back of sixth place Erie. The Guelph Storm, who have overtaken Owen Sound and clinched a playoff spot, are two points back of Saginaw in eighth place. Windsor, London, Kitchener, and Plymouth all remain realistic opening round opponents for the Spirit.

On the ice, Jordan Skellett (25-59-84) still holds down a top ten ranking in the league's points race, and with one more assist he will tie Tyler Haskins for most helpers for a Saginaw player in a season at 60. This week's Spirit player of the week is goaltender Tad Galansky who turned in two outstanding performances against Windsor and Plymouth to take home the weekly honor. NHL draft eligible forward Josh Shalla (32-29-61) continues to pace the Spirit in goals and Saginaw now has two players in the top 20 in defensemen scoring in Jordan Hill (7-31-38), who celebrated his 21st birthday this week, and Ryan O'Connor (13-25-38). The team is also hoping to have forward Tyler Murovich (24-28-52) and defenseman Brad Walch (1-11-12) back in the lineup this week as both have been nursing injuries.

Saginaw at Sault Ste. Marie (34-26-1-4 73 points) - Any hopes for the Spirit to catch the Greyhounds in the standings probably hinge on Wednesday night's encounter at the Essar Center. Saginaw has played the Soo tough this season and lead the season series between the two teams. The Greyhounds are arguably the most improved team in the OHL this season after a rare missed playoff campaign a season ago. This season's success stems from the team's work from the blueline back as the Soo is very strong on the blueline and in goal. Jacob Muzzin (14-51-65) is in a great battle for top scoring defenseman in the league as the Los Angeles Kings prospect anchors the corps along with powerplay specialist Michael Quesnele (13-40-53). They are supported by youngsters Brandon Archibald (5-27-32) and Brock Beukeboom (6-19-25), both of whom should hear their names called at the next NHL Draft in Los Angeles. In goal, a lot of the Greyhounds hopes for the playoffs will rest on the shoulders of Ottawa Senators draft pick Robin Lehner who was the OHL's Goaltender of the Month in December. Up front, it's scoring by committee for the Greyhounds led by Brett Thompson (40-23-63) who has broken out in a big way this season and former Whaler Vern Cooper (25-40-65), who along with Muzzin, leads the team in points. The Greyhounds penalty killing has also been a key component for the team, a unit that has been ranked number one for a good portion of the season, but has dipped to the second spot in recent games.

Kitchener (40-18-4-3 87 points) at Saginaw - Saginaw's final home game of the regular season could be a prelude of a first round matchup after the dust settles on Sunday. The Rangers will be the third seed in the West and can score with anyone in the OHL boasting the league's third ranked powerplay and two players flirting with 50 goal seasons. Kitchener has not had a fifty goal shooter since the mid 1980's but Jeff Skinner (48-40-88) and Atlanta prospect Jeremy Morin (46-36-82) are in range. Throw into the mix Chris MacKinnon (29-58-87) who ranks eighth in league scoring and Jason Akeson (24-54-78) who is also in the top 20 in OHL scoring and that is a core that would get the attention of any rival goaltender in the OHL. On the blueline, a unit that is a little banged up right now, it does not get any better in the league defensively than Dan Kelly (6-21-27), who takes care of his own zone as well as anyone in the circuit. Columbus First Round Pick John Moore (10-36-46) adds offence as does rookie Ryan Murphy (6-31-37). In goal, a lot rests with Brandon Maxwell as he will be the go to guy for the Rangers when the playoffs kick off in a few days.

Saginaw at Plymouth (38-25-0-2 78 points) - Along with the numerous playoff races among the teams in the OHL that has our attention, there is also a pretty good battle for the league's scoring title and it involves two players that will not have to wait long to hear their name called at the NHL Draft. Entering the week, Plymouth's Tyler Seguin (47-58-105) had a slim two point lead over Windsor's Taylor Hall for most points, and he is the main offensive threat for Plymouth. Seguin is not alone in producing points for the Whalers as his supporting cast includes U.S. World Jr. skater AJ Jenks (23-38-61), and fellow U.S. teammate Phil McRae (16-35-51). On the defensive side of the ledger, Matt Hackett has turned in another superb season as the Minnesota Wild prospect is among the league leaders in most significant goaltending categories. The Whalers blueline is a solid, workmanlike unit that should get a significant overhaul by the time the playoffs roll around with the return of Michal Jordan (13-19-32), who strung together a seven game goal streak earlier this season and has eleven powerplay goals from the backend.

Get your tickets! The Spirit host their last home game of the regular season on Saturday, March 13 with a 7:11 PM game against the Kitchener Rangers. For ticket information, please contact the Spirit at 989-497-7747 or visit the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store at 5789 State Street in Saginaw.

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