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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Preview: Spirit Host Defending OHL Champion Bulldogs Wednesday at the Dow

January 9, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit (24-11-2-2 52pts.) hosts the defending OHL Champion Hamilton Bulldogs (18-18-3-1 40pts.) in the last of a three game homestand Wednesday, January 9 at 7:05 p.m. It is the first of two meetings of the season between the teams.

The Spirit will be having a $5 student/military ticket rush for the game presented by Reder Landscaping.

Fans can watch live on OHLlive.com or listen to the game on the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk and Sports or fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. Pre-game coverage begins 15 minutes before puck drop with host Domenic Papa.

In the last 10 games, Saginaw has collected 19 of a possible 20 points and come into Wednesday's game riding a six-game win streak. The Spirit have a plus-20 goal differential in the last six-games.

Since taking over as Spirit head coach, Chris Lazary has led Saginaw to a 13-2-1-1 record. The Spirit are now third in the Western Conference and just one-point behind Sault Ste. Marie in the West Division race.

A big factor in the streak has been the play of Saginaw's goaltenders Ivan Prosvetov and rookie Tristan Lennox. The two have combined for a goals against average of 1.80 in the past 10 games.

Prosvetov, a Arizona Coyotes prospect, was named Vaughn CHL goaltender of the week after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .969. The Russian goaltender is coming off his best performance as a Spirit in a 2-0 shutout win against the Sudbury Wolves. Prosvetov stopped all 54 shots faced against the Wolves en route to his eighth straight victory. The 19-year-old now leads the OHL with three shutouts on the season.

Edmonton Oilers second round pick Ryan McLeod has been strong against the Hamilton Bulldogs this season. McLeod, recently acquired from the Mississauga Steelheads, had a goal and four assists in three games this season.

Newest Saginaw Spirit Owen Tippet had two assists for the Steelheads against Hamilton earlier this season. Tippett signed with the Florida Panthers after the team drafted the right-winger 10th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Peterborough, Ontario native has 20 goals and 15 assists in just 25 games this season.

Spirit leading scorer Cole Coskey saw his 10-game point streak snapped in Sunday's victory. During the streak, the Zion, Illinois native scored 11 goals and 11 assists for better than two points-per-game.

Saginaw's Bode Wilde was recently named December's OHL Defenseman of the Month after scoring four goals and 12 assists in 10 games. Wilde, a New York Islanders second round pick, recently signed an entry-level NHL contract. The Plymouth, Michigan native is currently tied for fourth among OHL defensemen with 41 points.

The Spirit defense will attempt to contain CHL Player of the Week Arthur Kaliyev. The 2019 NHL Draft top prospect scored seven goals and four assists in his last four games. The Stanton Island, New York native leads Hamilton with 31 goals and 32 assists. Kaliyev is currently fourth among all OHL players with 63 points in just 40 games.

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matthew Strome is coming off three-point game against the Niagara IceDogs. The Hamilton left-winger scored two-goals was good for second-star honors in the 6-5 shootout loss to Niagara. Strome is the youngest brother of the NHLers Dylan and Ryan Strome. The Mississauga, Ontario native is second on the Bulldogs with 46 points.

Hamilton recently acquired Arizona Coyotes prospect Jan Jenik from the Flint Firebirds. Jenik was selected in the third round in the 2018 NHL Draft after having a big 2018 Hlinka Memorial Cup Tournament. The six-foot-one-inch forward scored six goals and seven points in five games with Team Czech Republic.

The Spirit and the Bulldogs come into the game with two of the best power plays in the OHL. Saginaw has converted on 24.4% of the man-power advantages this season, good for sixth-best in the OHL. Hamilton has the league-best power play converting on 27.7% of the man-power advantages this season.

Hamilton has three players with rights owned by NHL clubs, forwards Matthew Strome (Philadelphia Flyers), Jan Jenik (Arizona Coyotes), and defenseman Nicolas Mattinen (Toronto Maple Leafs).

The Spirit have eight players drafted by NHL teams, 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 Bode Wilde (New York Islanders-signed), Reilly Webb (Detroit Red Wings) and goaltender Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona Coyotes).

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.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2019


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