OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Crush Soo, 10-1

Published on April 7, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit exchange congratulations after a dominant win
Saginaw Spirit exchange congratulations after a dominant win
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit take a complete game two, 10-1 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for a 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Sault Ste. Marie.

Edmonton Oilers second round pick Ryan McLeod and 2019 NHL Draft prospect Nicholas Porco each contributed two goals and two assists.

Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov continued his strong post-season play with a 42-save victory.

Seven Saginaw Spirit players collect multiple-point efforts in the game.

The Spirit travel to Sault Ste. Marie for game's three and four on Tuesday and Thursday night.

Saginaw right wing Nicholas Porco opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period with his first goal of the post-season.

After New York Islanders prospect Blade Jenkins hit the post on a rush up-ice, the 2019 NHL Draft prospect Porco collected the rebound in the slot. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native lifted a backhand shot past the Soo goaltender Matthew Villalta.

Edmonton Oilers 2018 second round pick McLeod gave Saginaw a 2-0 lead just over two minutes later. Detroit Red Wings defensive prospect Reilly Webb sent a shot from the right circle that rebounded into the air. McLeod batted the puck out of mid-air into the Soo net for his second goal of the playoffs.

With the secondary assist on the play, 2017 Florida Panthers 10th overall pick Owen Tippett extended his post-season point streak to six games.

The Spirit made it a 3-0 lead just over four minutes later with McLeod's second goal of the period. Tippett set up the goal with a nice pass to the side of the net for McLeod to one-time into the net.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Camaryn Baber gave Saginaw a four-goal lead just 1:07 later. Baber received a pass from overager Albert Michnac in the slot and slid a turnaround backhand in the Soo goal.

Saginaw's fifth first period goal came on a breakaway from Detroit Red Wings draft pick Brady Gilmour. McLeod sent Saginaw's alternate captain into the Soo zone all alone, Gilmour made a nice deke on the Greyhounds net-minder and slid the puck through the five-hole.

The Spirit outshot the Greyhounds, 18-10 in the first 20 minutes of play and took a 5-0 lead into the first intermission.

Saginaw extended their lead just 3:46 into the second period of play. Spirit right-winger Tippett made a nice move around a Soo defender and sniped a wrist shot top-corner from the top of the slot.

The Peterborough, Ontario native has at least a goal for the Spirit in all six post-season games this season.

Saginaw left-winger Porco notched his second of the game just under four minutes after the Tippett goal to give the Spirit a 7-0 lead. Michnac made a nice play to skate out front from behind the net for a shot. After the rebound squirted to the right of the crease, Porco hammered home the puck.

Jackson, Michigan native Blade Jenkins added a power play goal midway through the second period for the eighth Spirit goal in just over 30 minutes of play. The New York Islanders prospect sniped a wrist shot top-corner from the point.

Rookie Ethan Taylor replaced the Los Angeles Kings prospect Villalta after the Jenkins goal.

The Greyhounds found the scoreboard with a shorthanded tally just under a minute after the Jenkins goal. Philadelphia Flyers first round pick Morgan Frost found Toronto Maple Leafs signee Mac Hollowell breaking into the Spirit zone. Hollowell beat Prosvetov just over the glove for his second goal of the post-season.

Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov continued his strong play in the playoffs making several big saves. The Russian goaltender stoned Hollowell's breakaway bid in the waning seconds of the second period.

As Hollowell exited the penalty box, the defenseman was sprung on the breakaway. Hollowell attempted a deke to the backhand but Prosvetov denied the chance with his pad.

The Spirit took the 8-1 lead into the second intermission.

Saginaw added their ninth of the game just 2:14 into the third frame with Jenkins second of the game. 2019 NHL Draft prospect Mason Millman sent a nice pass to Jenkins at the top of the crease and the Spirit center slid the puck into the open net.

Saginaw defenseman Millman notched his first career OHL playoffs goal to give the Spirit a 10-1 lead late in the third period. Porco sent a saucer pass over the Millman on a two-on-one rush and lifted a one-timer passed a sliding Taylor.

The Spirit took game two with a complete 10-1 victory.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Nicholas Porco (SAG) 2G, 2A +4

Ryan McLeod (SAG) 2G, 2A +4

Blade Jenkins (SAG) 2G, A +2

The Saginaw Spirit looks to continue the dominant play when they travel to Sault Ste. Marie for game three Tuesday, April 9 and game four Thursday, April 11. Puck drop for both games are 7:07 p.m. from the GFL Memorial Gardens.

Fans can follow all the action on the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk and Sports and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. "Countdown to Face-off" begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop for all your pregame coverage.

Fans can watch the game live from the Saginaw Spirit "Watch Party" from the 2690 Tittabawassee Road Buffalo Wild Wings location.

Tickets for Game Five *if necessary* go on sale Monday, April 8 on saginawspirit.com, ticketmaster.com, and at the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street in Saginaw. The Spirit will not be taking orders over the phone at this time.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Saginaw Spirit exchange congratulations after a dominant win
Saginaw Spirit exchange congratulations after a dominant win
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2019


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