OHL Saginaw Spirit

Perfetti Scores Twice in Spirit 5-4 Win

Published on November 21, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI. - The Saginaw Spirit came out on top against the Owen Sound Attack 5-4 on Thursday, November 21 at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. With the win, the Spirit have taken eight straight home games over the Owen Sound Attack.

Only 20 seconds into the opening frame, Owen Sound found the back of the net. Sergey Popov passed the puck to LA Kings draft pick Aidan Dudas for a one-timer at the top of the right-wing circle past the glove of Spirit goaltender Tristan Lennox. The Attack took a 1-0 lead on the first shot of the hockey game.

A little over four minutes after the first goal of the game, the Spirit brought the puck to the front of Owen Sound's net. A shot from just outside the left circle by Reilly Webb bounced off the pads of Cole Coskey, who directed the puck toward Cole Perfetti. His quick release was thwarted by Guzda, but on the second chance, Perfetti deked past Guzda's left pad and tucked the puck inside the right post and just across the goal line. The goal was initially washed out by the referee, but after review, the Spirit had tied the game at one goal apiece.

Owen Sound outshot the Spirit 10-9, while the score remained tied at one.

Less than a minute into the second period, a turnover at the Owen Sound blue line allowed Cole Perfetti to score his second goal of the game and ninth goal of the season. A pass from New York Islanders prospect Cole Coskey connected with Cole Perfetti for a wrist shot between the hashes that went to the upper corner of the net past Owen Sound goaltender Mack Guzda to break the tie. The Perfetti goal gave him his first multi-goal game this season.

At 9:13 of the second period, Dalton Duhart passed the puck from the top of the left-wing circle to Saginaw, Michigan native Mitchell Smith at the point. His slap shot from the blue line found its way to the back of the net. The Attack goaltender was screened on the play by Spirit forward Camaryn Baber.

2:02 later, CHL Import first-round draft pick Ilya Solovyov had all kinds of room between the circles to either shoot or pass. He elected to pass the puck to Rookie Ethan Cardwell, who tipped it in to advance the Spirit's lead, 4-1.

At 14:02 of the second frame, Dalton Duhart found the puck at the front of the net and buried it deep for his first goal as a Saginaw Spirit. A dogged forecheck from Camaryn Baber and T-Bone Codd resulted in Duhart finding the puck alone in front of the net. With the puck on edge, he swiped it over the left pad of Guzda for the Spirit fifth straight goal in the game.

A fight broke out between Spirit's Connor Punnett and Owen Sound's Stepan Machacek which resulted in a five minute major for both players.

Seconds after the play resumed, Kaleb Pearson skated up from the right-wing circle and got the puck between Tristian Lennox's pads to close the gap to 5-2 with 5:13 remaining in the second period.

Owen Sound outshot the Spirit, 23-22 through the second period of play but the Spirit went into the second intermission on top, 5-2.

A relatively uneventful first part of the third period subsided with a high-sticking, double-minor penalty called on Cole Coskey with 13:50 remaining in regulation, which put Owen Sound on a power play.

After many failed zone entries for Owen Sound, Adam McMaster chipped the puck past Reilly Webb on the left wing boards, and sped past him. He wasted no time at all firing a slap shot over the left shoulder of Tristan Lennox.

Late penalty trouble for Saginaw saw two key members of their defense in the box on an interference penalty to Ilya Solovyov and Reilly Webb, the Attack pulled to within a goal just after the Solovyov penalty had expired. Sergey Popov was set up off to the left of Lennox for a one-time over the goaltender's glove to make it a one-goal game.

The Spirit survived the last push from Owen Sound to win their third straight game over the Attack and eighth in a row at home over Owen Sound.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Cole Perfetti (SAG) 2G

Dalton Duhart (SAG) G, A

Mitchell Smith (SAG) G

The Spirit will be at home Saturday, November 23 to host the Windsor Spitfires for First Responders Night at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Puck drop begins at 7:05 p.m.

Following the game on Saturday, there will be a post-game superhero jersey auction.

To purchase tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989) 497-7747, visit www.saginawspirit.com, or visit the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw MI.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2019


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