OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Drop Game 6 in Overtime

Published on April 8, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Flint Firebirds ' Matthew Jenken versus Saginaw Spirit's Sebastien Gervais
Flint Firebirds ' Matthew Jenken versus Saginaw Spirit's Sebastien Gervais
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Eric Young)

Flint, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (3-3) lost 4-3 in overtime to the Flint Firebirds (3-3) Saturday, April 8, at the Dow Event Center.

Tristan Lennox started for Saginaw, stopping 27 of 31 shots faced while Hunter Haight tallied a goal and an assist. Going 22 for 25, Flint's Nathan Day earned his third career playoff win. Nolan Dann potted two goals while Dmitry Kuzmin got three helpers for the Firebirds. Coulson Pitre's scored his first goal of the playoffs in overtime and tied the series at 3-3.

The game began with Saginaw down a skater after Michael Misa went to the box for tripping at 1:16. Flint could not score on the chance.

The rest of the period saw both teams attempt to score first but to no avail. Saginaw held the lead in shots at the end of the first frame, 13-8.

The second period started with Saginaw getting on the board at 3:50. Hunter Haight gave Mitchell Smith the puck at Flint's left wing. The captain sent a pass to Joey Willis at the right wing and he fired home his third of the postseason.

Flint answered back at 5:27 in the second frame. Alex Bradshaw got the puck to Nolan Dann behind the net. The winger skated around the net and sent a shot over Lennox's left shoulder for his third of the playoffs.

Hunter Haight and Blake Smith both took roughing penalties at 13:02 in the middle period, which resulted in four-on-four play. Saginaw used the open ice to retake the lead at 13:43. Matyas Sapovaliv received the puck from Dean Loukus in the Saginaw end. He fired a pass up to Zayne Parekh, and the defenseman snapped a shot past Day's glove to make it 2-1.

Just a few minutes later, the Spirit added to their lead with a tally at 16:59 in the middle frame. Calem Mangone passed to Roberto Mancini, and he fired a shot at Day. A scrum broke out at the goaltender's doorstep for the puck. Hunter Haight found the puck through the chaos for his third of the playoffs.

After 40 minutes, Saginaw led 3-1 with a 25-14 shot advantage.

The third period opened with Flint closing the lead to one at 10:19. Dmitry Kuzmin received a pass from Amadeus Lombardi on the right wing. Nolan Dann got the puck in close on Lennox, and he scored his third of the postseason.

The Firebirds tied the game again with a tally at 14:10 in the third frame. Dmitry Kuzmin passed to Zacharie Giroux at the top of the circles. The center sent a shot over Lennox's glove for his third of the playoffs.

Late in the period, Saginaw got their first powerplay after Riley Piercey committed a roughing penalty at 16:37 in the final period. The Spirit could not score on the chance.

Neither team could score in the remaining minutes, and the game went to overtime. At the end of regulation, both teams had three goals, yet Saginaw had a 32-30 shot lead.

In overtime, it was Coulson Pitre who forced a seventh game. Ethan Hay passed to Dmitry Kuzmin in the Flint zone, springing Pitre on a breakaway. The forward went between the legs of Tristan Lennox for the 4-3 overtime win.

At the end of the game, the Firebirds won 4-3 despite a 35-31 shot lead for Saginaw. The series is now tied at three games apiece.

Saginaw hosts Flint for Game 7 Monday, April 10, at the Dow Event Center. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at Ticketmaster, the Saginaw Spirit Store (6321 State Street), Dow Event Center Box Office, and by phone at (989) 497-7747.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Images from this story

Flint Firebirds ' Matthew Jenken versus Saginaw Spirit's Sebastien Gervais
Flint Firebirds ' Matthew Jenken versus Saginaw Spirit's Sebastien Gervais
(Eric Young)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2023


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