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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Fall to Sting, 6-1

February 25, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Eric Young)

Saginaw, Mich. - After a 90-minute delay,the Saginaw Spirit (30-23-2-1) fell 6-1 to the Sarnia Sting (30-17-5-3) Saturday, February 25, at the Dow Event Center.

Sarnia's Ty Voit and Zach Filak each earned two assists while Nicholas Surzycia let in one goal on 20 shots. Matyas Sapovaliv scored the lone goal for the Spirit. Tristan Lennox played the first 40 minutes, stopping 13 of 18 shot. Andrew Oke played the remaining 20, stopping nine of ten.

The game began with Sarnia being caught with too many men on the ice at 3:21. Saginaw was unable to generate any scoring on the chance.

The Sting got a man-advantage after Roberto Mancini took a tripping penalty at 6:57 in the first period. The Spirit successfully killed off the penalty with a shorthanded chance.

Mitchell Smith covered the puck in goal crease and Nolan Burke was awarded a penalty shot at 8:57 in the opening period. The center attempted a shot on Lennox's blocker-side, but the goaltender stood strong and denied him.

The Sting scored the first goal at 9:10 in the opening frame. Cooper Way received a pass from Zach Filak to start the play. The center rifled a shot over Lennox's glove from the center of the circles for his 11th goal of the season.

Sarnia added to their lead at 11:22 in the first period. Ethan Ritchie started the play by passing to Ty Voit. The Toronto Maple Leafs pick sent a one-timer pass to Sasha Pastujov on the right wing. The Anaheim Ducks prospect ripped a fast shot over Lennox's glove to make it 2-0.

Saginaw earned another powerplay after Zach Filak was called for hooking at 18:48 in the first frame. The penalty spanned the first and second periods.

At the end of the first period, Sarnia held a nine-to-seven shot advantage and led the game, 2-0.

The second period opened with Sarnia making it 3-0 at 1:48. Joshua Hoover received a pass from Marcus Limpar-Lantz in Saginaw's zone. Easton Wainwright received it next, and he put in a backhanded shot under Lennox's glove. The goal was his ninth of the season.

The Sting netted another goal at 4:31 in the second frame. A scrum broke out in front of Saginaw's net that saw Lennox move out of the net. Ty Voit used the chaos to push the puck into the open net and earn his 17th goal of the season. Nolan Burke and Lukas Fischer earned helpers on the play.

Saginaw's Mitchell Smith and Sarnia's Joshua Hoover dropped the gloves at 8:11 in the middle period which resulted in a Sting powerplay after Smith picked up the instigator. The Spirit safely killed off the chance with help from Lennox.

Theo Hill committed a holding penalty at 13:26 in the middle frame, which gave the Sting a powerplay. Much like the pervious one, Saginaw successfully killed the penalty with several clearing attempts.

Sarnia made it 5-0 at 15:55 in the second period. Ryan Mast received a pass from Easton Wainwright out front. The Boston Bruins pick sent a shot past Lennox from the faceoff dot for his sixth of the season.

Saginaw got on the board at 18:58 in the second frame. Theo Hill shot a pass over to Olivier Savard and he took a shot at Surzycia. The goaltender made a kick-save, but Matyas Sapovaliv recovered and netted his 22nd of the season.

At the end of the second period, Sarnia led 5-1 with a 18-14 shot advantage.

The third period started with the Spirit down a skater after Luke McNamara took a tripping penalty at 3:02. The Sting capitalized on the chance with a goal at 3:51. Ty Voit shot a pass to Sasha Pastujov at the right wing. Luca DelBelBelluz scored his 32nd of the season after he received a one-timer and beat a reaching Oke to make it 6-1.

Ethan Del Mastro was called for interference at 12:51 in the third frame, giving Saginaw a

powerplay. Sarnia held them scoreless on the chance.

At the end of the game, Sarnia won 6-1 with a 28-21 shot advantage. The loss puts Saginaw at 30-23-2-1 on the season.

Saginaw wraps up their weekend by visiting the Flint Firebirds Sunday, February 26, at the Dort Financial Center. Puck drop is at 4:00 p.m.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics




Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
(Eric Young)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2023


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