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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Preview: Battle Tested Veterans Leading Spirit into Game Two with Series Lead

April 7, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - Round two continues as the second-seed Saginaw Spirit hosts the third-seed Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for Game two Sunday, April. The Spirit look to remain unbeaten in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) post-season after a 4-1 victory Friday evening. Puck drop from The Dow Event Center begins at 5:30 p.m.

Watch live on OHLLive.com or listen live on the flagship WSGW Newsradio 100.5 FM and fmtalk1005.com with the voice of the Saginaw Spirit Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. "Countdown to Faceoff" with host Domenic Papa starts 15 minutes prior to puck drop.

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

The OHL playoffs best penalty kill shined in game one, after the Spirit's shorthanded unit killed all seven of the Greyhounds man-power advantages. Saginaw's penalty kill is unblemished through five post-season games.

Strong goaltending is a key for a successful penalty kill and Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov has been superb for the Spirit. The Moscow, Russia native has a stellar 1.93 goals against average and .944 save percentage this post-season.

The Russian goaltender stopped 34 shots against the Soo in game one and allowed just one goal to collect the victory. Prosvetov was honored with game one's first star for his effort.

Saginaw's excellent penalty kill has been accompanied by a strong man-power advantage in the playoffs this year. The Spirit has a power play goal in four out of five games this post-season.

New York Islanders second round pick Bode Wilde collected Saginaw's game-winning power play goal in game one. The Saginaw defenseman has two goals on the man-power advantages during these playoffs.

Florida Panthers signee Owen Tippett has tallied at least a goal in all five playoff games this season. The Peterborough, Ontario native opened the scoring in game one with a top-shelf one-timer early in the second period.

Tippett, a 2017 Florida Panthers 10th round pick, has 20 career OHL post-season goals. The right-winger leads all OHL players with seven goals through five playoff games.

With a late third period assist in game one, Detroit Red Wings prospect Brady Gilmour extended his post-season point streak to three games, and has at least one point in seven of nine career playoff games. The Spirit alternate captain leads Saginaw with seven assists in this year's playoffs.

Saginaw captain Damien Giroux is second on the Spirit with five goals this post-season. The Minnesota Wild draft pick has at least one goal in four straight post-season games.

Los Angeles Kings prospect Matthew Villalta collected game one's third star for the Greyhounds. The Soo goaltender stopped 29 of 31 shots faced in a losing effort.

Right-winger Jaden Peca was the only Greyhounds players with a positive plus/minus rating in game one. The Woodbridge, Ontario native scored the Soo's lone goal to extend his point streak to four games.

The Saginaw Spirit held 2018 Arizona Coyotes fifth overall pick Barrett Hayton scoreless for just the second time this post-season in game one. The Sault Ste. Marie center leads all Soo players with 10 points in six playoff games this season.

Brighton, Michigan native Keeghan Howdeshell extended his post-season point streak to six games with an assist in game one. The left-winger leads all Soo players with five goals in this season's playoffs.

The Soo Greyhounds have four players with rights owned by NHL clubs, forwards Morgan Frost (Philadelphia Flyers-signed), Barrett Hayton (Arizona Coyotes-signed), defenseman Mac Hollowell (Toronto Maple Leafs-signed), and goaltender Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles Kings-signed).

The Spirit also boasts eight players drafted by NHL clubs, forwards Brady Gilmour (Detroit Red Wings), Blade Jenkins (New York Islanders), Owen Tippett (Florida Panthers-signed), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers), Damien Giroux (Minnesota Wild), defensemen Reilly Webb (Detroit Red Wings), Bode Wilde (New York Islanders-signed), and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona Coyotes).

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2019


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