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Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Down Guelph in Milestone-Laden OT Win

March 15, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Lisa Della Mattia)

Guelph, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (47-15-1-1) completed a come-from-behind OT victory against the Guelph Storm (29-27-6-1) at the Sleeman Centre, 5-4, scoring three goals in the third to force overtime. Michael Misa and Josh Bloom both finished with one-and-two nights (1G, 2A), Michael Buchinger contributed two assists in a +3 night for the Guelph defensemen, and Matyas Sapovaliv scored with just four seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to OT. Brayden Gillespie started for the Storm notching 38 saves on 43 shots, while Andrew Oke guarded the blue paint for the Spirit collecting 23 saves on 27 shots.

The Storm took the first lead of the game with a goal at 7:40 into the first. Following a takeaway in the neutral zone, Gavin Grunder picked up the loose puck and raced into the zone near the far boards. Grunder looked toward the center, looking to pass to Max Namestnikov, whose shot rebounded back to Brody Crane. The Guelph winger took the rebound and quickly put the puck back on net finding its way past goaltender Andrew Oke and into the net for his tenth of the season and giving the Storm a 1-0 lead.

About ten minutes later, Josh Bloom skated down the penalty box sideboards and tipped a Spirit defenseman pass ahead for Michael Misa. The Saginaw winger dashed past the Guelph defense and collected the sliding puck. Misa quickly spun and threw the puck to the top of the crease finding Alex Christopoulos, who rammed home the 100th goal of his OHL career to even the score.

At the end of the first period, the teams remained tied with Saginaw just outshooting Guelph nine to eight.

Just over halfway through the second, the Storm moved the puck around in the Saginaw zone, zipping and zagging between the Saginaw defenders looking for an opening. Braeden Bowman collected the puck of a pass at the left circle and skated back up toward the blueline. A quick pass intended for Michael Buchinger allowed the Storm defender to let loose a huge one-time slapshot. Buchinger wound back, then let up while striking the biscuit firmly, passing the puck to the far post where Jake Karabela had a wide-open case to tap the puck into. As the puck crossed the line, Karabela celebrated his 21st of the year and the prospect of giving his team the 2-1 lead.

At 13:54, Saginaw Owen Beck and Guelph's Will McFadden received offsetting penalties for slashing and diving respectively. Before the end of the four-on-four set, Saginaw would take another penalty with Calem Mangone going off for a hold. This would set up the Storm with a short four-on-three powerplay opportunity.

On the powerplay, Guelph looked to back down the Saginaw defense, using their crisp passing to their advantage. Michael Buchinger started the play off by passing to Jett Luchanko posted up near the left circle. Luchanko in turn placed a pass perfectly to Braeden Bowman who attempted to step through the Saginaw defense for losing the puck as it drifted into the corner. Bowman recollected the loose puck playing it to Luchanko who had drifted to the slot. A quick back pass by Luchanko opened up goaltender Andrew Oke just enough for Bowman to slap a one-timer between the Spirit goaltender's legs for his 34th of the season.

At the end of the second period, Guelph held a two goal lead up 3-1 while outshooting the Spirit 20 to 16.

At 3:38 into the third period, Matyas Sapovaliv received a touch pass in the Saginaw zone and began skating through the neutral zone. After slashing through the Guelph forward core and crossing the blue line, the Vegas prospect laid the puck back for Michael Misa. The seventeen-year-old winger held the puck then fired a pass toward the slot finding Calem Mangone who quickly and precisely placed a shot on net. The puck found a soft spot on the left side of goaltender Brayden Gillespie and into the net for Mangone's 19th of the season, and brought the Spirit back to within one.

Following a neutral zone turnover by Saginaw, Max Namestnikov tapped the puck back up ice there Charlie Paquette looked to collect it. Paquette instead tipped the puck ahead before getting hit in the neutral zone, just fare enough for Vilmer Alriksson to pick it up cleanly. Alriksson drifted in, cocked back, and let loose a shot that beat goaltender Andrew Oke on the short side for his 15th of the season and reextending the Guelph lead to two.

With approximately 2:40 remaining in the final period, Saginaw pulled the goaltender following a penalty to Guelph's Vilmer Alriksson for a check to the head penalty. On the six-on-four, a blocked shot at the Saginaw blue line ricocheted into the right wing corner. Calem Mangone, while in the corner, tipped the puck out from the wall, where Josh Bloom swooped in to regain possession. Bloom looked across the ice and fired a pass to Michael Misa standing at the opposite circle. Misa scored his 50th career OHL goal in his 108th game to bring the Spirit within a goal. His tally made him the third-fastest Exceptional Status player in OHL history to 50 career goals, eight faster than Connor McDavid (116 games).

As time was running down in the final frame, Guelph attempted to clear the puck on the six-on-five Saginaw advantage. Before the puck could leave the zone, Owen Beck knocked down the puck, keeping possession for Saginaw with just seconds remaining. A quick pass to the center found Matyas Sapovaliv, who quickly and precisely placed a shot just past Brayden Gillespie with just four seconds remaining for his 17th of the season to force overtime.

At the conclusion of regulation, Saginaw and Guelph were tied at four apiece, with Saginaw outshooting Guelph in the third (22-7) and overall (38-27).

In overtime, Zayne Parekh picked off a misplaced pass by the Guelph Storm, setting up a two-on-one opportunity with little time left in the overtime period. Parekh's pass across to Josh Bloom set up the overtime winner, and gave Parekh the most assists in one season by a Spirit defenseman (57).

This win elevated the Saginaw Spirit to (47-15-1-1) and just two points behind the London Knights in the regular season champion race, while dropping the Guelph Storm to (29-27-6-1) on the season.

The Spirit's next game is tomorrow against the Erie Otters at the Erie Insurance Arena with a start time of 7:00 PM.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
Saginaw Spirit celebrate win
(Lisa Della Mattia)		   

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