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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Come Up Short Against Otters

November 2, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit battle the Erie Otters
Saginaw Spirit battle the Erie Otters
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (4-7-0-1) were defeated by the Erie Otters (5-7-2-0) on Thursday, November 2nd, by a score of 6-5. This was Andrew Oke's first game back since being injured against Windsor on October 21st. Okestarted in net for the Spirit, stopping 15 of 19 shots on goal. Nolan Lalonde would later come in to replace him, stopping 10 of 12 shots on goal against his former team. Ben Gaudreau started in net for the Otters, making 22 saves on 27 shots.

Only seconds into the first period, Erie's Pano Fimis took a seat in the penalty box on a hooking call. Spirit took advantage of this power play opportunity when Matyas Sapovaliv won the initial faceoff and passed behind him to Michael Misa. The sophomore forward fed Zayne Parekh, who wristed a shot past Ben Gaudreau's glove for the game's first goal on the powerplay.

With 16:33 left in the second period the Otters were called on another penalty. This one being on Brett Hammond for slashing. The Spirit were unable to score on this power play opportunity but attempted three shots on goal.

The Otters soon responded with a goal of their own when Martin Misiak took a shot between the right circle and red line with the puck squeezing past Andrew Oke. This was an unassisted goal and tied the game at one apiece with 9:34 left in the first period.

11:55 into the first period, both Josh Glavin and Brett Bresette were sent to the penalty after a small scuffle. Both would be called for roughing.

The Spirit again took advantage of the 4v4 opportunity with Calem Mangone skated up ice. He fanned on his first shot attempt, but his follow-up beat Gaudreau for a 2-1 lead over Erie. This goal came 12:31 into the first period. Roberto Mancini and Zayne Parekh were also credited with assists.

Valentin Zhugin was sent to the penalty box at 14:51 of the first period. This gave the Otters a power play opportunity that they then capitalize on. Martin Misiak deflected a shot from Brett Bressette for the powerplay marker. Owain Johnston also picked up an assist as the Otters tied the game at 2-2.

With 1:34 left in the first period the Otters struck again. Bruce McDonald skated up ice along the wall and, as soon as he crossed the blue line, passed the puck to Martin Misiak. Misiak didn't have the puck for long, passing it to his left to Ondrej Molnar. Molnar was right in front of Andrew Oke when he took a shot, sending the puck just past Oke's left pad for a 3-2 lead.

The first period ended with the Otters leading the Spirit by a score of 3-2. Erie also outshot Saginaw, 18-10.

With 18:43 left in the second period, Erie's Pano Fimis wrapped around the back of the net to find Zayne Parekh waiting for him. Both battled for the puck with Fimis ultimately passing behind him. The puck bounced off Sam Alfano stick to Brett Bressette, who threw a puck past Andrew Oke for the 4-2 lead.

Andrew Oke was then replaced by Nolan Lalonde after 21:17 and 15 saves on 19 shots.

The Spirit soon responded when Michael Misa passed up to Roberto Mancini, who then found Valentin Zhugin alone in front of Gaudreau. His first shot was stopped, but Zhugin rammed home the rebound to cut Saginaw's deficit to 4-3 with 13:47 left in the second period.

After the goal, a string of penalties then ensued. A rash of penalties saw a parade to the penalty box. Most recently, a Hunter Haight boarding minor put the Otters on a 4-on-3

Erie took advantage of the ice when Martin Misiak made a pass to Spencer Sova. Sova skated up the middle, drawing Nolan Lalonde toward him. Sova then passed the puck back to Misiak who sat just inside the right circle. He fired a shot home for the hat trick and gave the Otters a 5-3 lead over the Spirit with 5:58 left in the second.

Soon after the penalty kill, Hunter Haight skated up ice along the wall all the way past the red line. Haight then passed behind him to Ethan Hay. Hay skated up, right in front of Ben Gaudreau, and fired the puck between his legs. The puck slipped right under Gaudreau's legs and to give Hay his fourth goal of the season and his second in a Spirit jersey to cut the lead to 5-4.

The second period ended with the Spirit just behind the Otters by a score of 5-4. Erie continued to outshoot Saginaw, 25-22 (7-12 in the second period).

The third period started with the Otters on a power play opportunity after a Nolan Lalonde unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Braden Haché and Alex Messier also started the third period in the penalty box after both receiving misconduct penalties to end the second.

With 10:10 left in the game, Josh Glavin was sent to the penalty box for holding, giving the Erie Otters another power play opportunity. The Otters capitalized when Alexis Daviault passed the puck up to Spencer Sova who then flipped the puck in the net behind Nolan Lalonde for a 6-4 lead.

Valentin Zhugin was able to add a late powerplay goal with the net empty, but the Spirit came up short in a 6-5 final score.

Saginaw's next game will be home in a rematch against the Mississauga Steelheads on Friday, November 3rd. Puck drop is at 7:05 at the Dow Event Center.

For more information, visitsaginawspirit.comor follow the team onTwitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit battle the Erie Otters
Saginaw Spirit battle the Erie Otters
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2023


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