OHL Saginaw Spirit

Misa Scores Two In 6-5 Win Over Mississauga

Published on November 3, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Calem Mangone, Matyas Sapovaliv and Michael Misa celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit's Calem Mangone, Matyas Sapovaliv and Michael Misa celebrate win
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, Mich - The Saginaw Spirit (5-7-0-1) defeated the Mississauga Steelheads (10-4-0-0) by a score of 6-5 at the Dow Event Center on Friday, November 3rd. Michael Misa scored two goals for the Spirit, and his brother Luke collected three assists for the Steelheads. Nolan Lalonde stopped 16 of 21 shots for the Spirit, and Ryerson Leenders protected the net for Mississauga saving 34 of 40.

Mississauga opened the scoring off the jump, only 43 seconds into the game. Luke Misa knocked down a Saginaw clearance and found himself and Porter Martone behind the defense. A centering pass from Misa, and a backhand deke from Martone, found open space past the leg of Lalonde. Martone's team-leading 12th of the year gave the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.

The Steelheads struck again at 4:23 into the first with Angus MacDonell's 6th of the year. Luke Misa played a puck to Parker Von Richter on the right side boards looking up ice. Von Richter sent a long, stretch pass through the neutral zone, finding the stick of MacDonell. The Steelheads forward slashed past the Saginaw defense and finished on his forehand to extend the Mississauga lead to 2-0.

Saginaw would take two penalties at 11:06 and 14:22 into the period, killing off both of them with proficiency and keeping the Mississauga lead at two.

At the conclusion of the first period, the Mississauga Steelheads led the Saginaw Spirit 2-0, despite being outshot 12-7 in the opening frame.

The second period opened with a power-play opportunity for the Spirit after a high-sticking penalty by Mississauga's Marc Boudreau at 3:22. Hunter Haight fed a pass to Zayne Parekh near the blue line as he drifted toward the slot. A drag shot by Parekh was knocked away by Steelheads' goaltender Leenders and onto the stick of Michael Misa. His shot slipped past Leenders and into the net for his fourth power-play goal and seventh marker on the year, cutting the Mississauga lead to one.

Saginaw would strike again only 40 seconds later. Ethan Hay passed to Dean Loukus who took the puck behind the net looking for an open man. Loukus's pass to the slot landed on the stick of Sebastien Gervais who wristed the puck on goal. His shot found the back of the net for his first goal of the year, and tied the game 2-2.

The Spirit would strike again just 57 seconds later. Calem Mangone tore up ice from the Saginaw zone and dropped a pass back for Dean Loukus. He found PJ Forgione in front with speed, and Saginaw's third goal in 1:37 gave them their first lead at 3-2.

Mississauga would respond 8:00 into the second on a goal by Jack Van Volsen. Mason Zebeski started the chance off by collecting the puck and sending it around the boards in the Saginaw zone. Luke Misa received the puck behind the net and fed a pass out-in front of the goal. Van Volsen, sitting in front, slipped a shot through the legs of Saginaw goaltender Nolan Lalonde and over the line. Van Volsen's second of the year brought the Steelheads even with the Spirit 3-3.

Saginaw would take the lead back 9:21 into the second after Valentin Zhugin fed a pass to Roberto Mancini waiting at the blue line. Mancini would take a shot on goal that was tipped by Michael Misa. His shot would trickle through the legs of Leenders and just across the goal line, giving Misa his second of the game. The Spirit now led 4-3.

Mississauga would be called for penalties on Jack Van Volsen (Slashing) at 11:16, and Stevie Leskovar (Delay of Game) at 12:50 setting up the Spirit on a short five-on-three power-play that they were unable to capitalize on.

Jack Van Volsen would respond on behalf of the Steelheads scoring with 40 seconds remaining in the second. Jakub Fibigr drifted in the offensive zone and dropped a pass for Parker Von Richter near the blue line. His shot on goal was tipped by Van Volsen and slipped past Lalonde just below the cross bar, knotting the game at four apiece.

At the end of the second period, the teams were tied 4-4 with shots being 32-14 in favor of the Spirit.

The scoring in the third opened at 6:05 into the period. Matyas Sapovaliv entered the offensive zone, and flipped a puck into the corner. Joey Willis raced to the puck and slung a pass into the slot, finding Calem Mangone. He collected the puck, pirouetted, and slipped his shot just past the left leg of Leenders. His fifth of the year elevated the Spirit to a 5-4 early into the third period.

At 6:38, Saginaw's Roberto Mancini and Mississauga's Zander Veccia received offsetting roughing penalties, with Mississauga's Adam Zidlicky also picking up a minor for roughing, setting the Spirit up on the power play.

On the man advantage, Zayne Parekh and Hunter Haight played the puck back and forth looking for an opening. Haight skated toward the right circle and played the puck back door for Matyas Sapovaliv. He took advantage of the open goal and slotted home his fourth of the year for the 6-4 lead.

At 11:58, the Steelheads would respond. Off the faceoff, the puck was loose in the right circle. After pinballing around, Porter Martone tipped the puck to Angus MacDonell who threw it toward the Saginaw net. MacDonell's shot tore past Lalonde's left shoulder and into the net, bringing Mississauga one goal closer at 6-5.

Mississauga would pull their goaltender late into the third, but could not beat Nolan Lalonde. Saginaw would hold on to snap their four-game losing streak and win 6-5 over the league-leading Mississauga Steelheads.

This win improved the Spirit to 5-7-0-1 and dropped Mississauga to 10-4-0-0, splitting the season series at one game apiece.

Saginaw's next game will be Tuesday, November 7th, at the Progressive Auto Sales Area. Puck drop against the Sting is at 11:00 AM.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

For media inquiries, contact Dillon Clark at dclark@saginawspirit.com.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Calem Mangone, Matyas Sapovaliv and Michael Misa celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit's Calem Mangone, Matyas Sapovaliv and Michael Misa celebrate win
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2023


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