OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Down Firebirds to Sweep Three-Game West Division Set

Published on December 14, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI. - The West Division leading Saginaw Spirit top the in-state rival Flint Firebirds 5-3 in this season's fourth installment of the Coors Light I-75 Divide Rivalry in front of 4,070 fans Saturday night at The Dow Event Center.

The Spirit nearly lit the lamp in the first minute of play after Spirit forward Camaryn Baber slid a pass from the right circle to 2019 Saginaw Spirit first round pick Connor Punnett at the left point.  The rookie wound up and hammered a slap shot that beat Flint goaltender Anthony Popovich but clanked off the right post.

The Firebirds opened the scoring 8:31 into the first period on Vancouver Canucks draft pick Ethan Keppen's 11th goal of the season.  Jack Wismer gained control of the puck behind the Spirit net and centered a quick pass for Keppen to one-time home from the slot for the 1-0 Firebirds lead.

The Spirit answered the goal quickly and it rained Teddy Bears in The Dow after top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Cole Perfetti notched his 17th goal of the season.  Overage defenseman Reilly Webb kept the puck in the Flint zone and rifled a low slap shot that rebounded right to Perfetti to the left of the goal.  The Whitby, Ontario native hammered the puck into the wide-open net for the 1-1 tie 10:13 into the first period.

Perfetti notched his second goal of the game with 4:05 left in the opening frame on another rebound opportunity.  Webb sent a point-to-point pass to Saginaw, Michigan native Mitchell Smith who sent a wrist shot that was blocked by Popovich.  Perfetti corralled the rebound in the slot and patiently skated around a Flint defender and backhanded a shot past the Flint goaltender's glove for his 18th goal of the season.  Since he came back from Canada's World Junior camps, Perfetti has three goals with an assist in just two games.

Saginaw had the slight edge in shots on goal in the first period of play and hit the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

Seven minutes into the second period the Spirit nearly added to their lead on a three-on-two rush.  Grand Blanc, Michigan native Dalton Duhart split the Flint defense with a pass to Baber, who cut towards the Firebirds goal.  Baber deked to his backhand but was unable to lift the puck over Popovich's extended pad.

With Saginaw shorthanded after rookie Josh Bloom was called for cross-checking, the Firebirds converted on the man-power advantage to tie the game 2-2.  Overage defenseman Riley McCourt passed the puck from the point to Cody Morgan at the top of the left circle.  The Firebirds forward sent a wrist shot over Frappier's glove for his ninth goal of the season.

The Spirit regained the lead just 58 seconds later with overager D.J. Busdeker's sixth goal of the season.  2020 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Cardwell dropped a pass to the Spirit defenseman at the right face-off circle.  Busdeker cut towards the center and sniped a wrist shot over Popovich's shoulder short side for a 3-2 Saginaw Spirit lead.

The Firebirds had the opportunity to tie the game before the second intermission on a breakaway opportunity from 2019 Flint Firebirds first round pick Brennen Othmann.  The Flint rookie was hit with a stretch pass and came down all alone on Frappier.  Othmann snapped a shot that was deflected into the corner by Frappiers blocker.

Flint once again tied the game 4:28 into the third period on Othmann's 7th goal of the season on a two-on-one rush.  McCourt slid a pass over to Othmann on his off-wing, where the rookie forward sent a one-timer from the right face-off circle to tie the game 3-3.

Saginaw nearly regained the lead off a face-off just past the half-way point of the third period.  Danil Antropov won a face-off right to Danny Katic, who quickly fired a wrist shot that just missed wide to keep the game tied, 3-3.

New York Islanders prospect Cole Coskey provided the late-game heroics for the second game in a row with his 17th goal of the season with just 3:37 left in regulation.  Mitchell Smith stickhandled through a couple Firebird defenders to the slot for a wrist shot that was fought off by Popovich.  Coskey drove the net and fired the puck past the Popovich, who was still down on the ice after Smith's attempt, for the Saginaw 4-3 lead.

Saginaw Spirit captain Damien Giroux added an empty-net goal after a Flint miscommunication where they left the puck in the Firebirds zone.  The Minnesota Wild draft pick jumped on the loose puck and shot the puck into the empty net for his team-leading 20th goal of the season.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Cole Perfetti (SAG) 2G, +4

Cole Coskey (SAG) GWG, +4

Riley McCourt (FLNT) 3A

The Saginaw Spirit matchup against another West Division rival Thursday, December 19 when they host the Sarnia Sting for the Spirit of Christmas Celebration at The Dow Event Center.  Puck drop for the third of six regular season meetings begins at 7:05 p.m.

The Spirit took the first two games of the season, including setting a team-record for goals in a single game after the 11-8 victory over the Sting back on December 6.

The game is another $6 student and military ticket rush event at The Dow.  Fans will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus at the arena between 5:00 and 8:30 p.m.

Fans can catch this weekend's action on the flagship WSGW Newsradio 100.5 FM and www.wsgw.com with Art Lewis and the voice of Saginaw Spirit hockey Joey Battaino on the call.  "Countdown to Face-off" with host Charley Porter begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop.

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 December 14, 2019


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