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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Gain Ground and Third Place in Playoff Rankings Race with 5-3 Win over Storm

March 6, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Guelph, Ontario) The Saginaw Spirit bested the Guelph Storm 5-3 Friday night, gaining ground on their conference rival in the rankings courtesy in part to the production of the offensive line featuring Joe Pleckaitis, Tyler Murovich and Jordan Szwarz. The three combined for 10 points, three goals and seven assists. The win also propelled the Spirit past the Plymouth Whalers in the rankings, with Saginaw now in third place in the OHL Western Conference with 75 points and a record of 34-23-3-4. The Whalers are in fourth place with 73 points and the Storm are in fifth with 71 points.

The Spirit were the first to get on the scoreboard, with winger Joe Pleckaitis notching a marker at 9:12 in the first period. Winger Jordan Szwarz and center Tyler Murovich assisted on the goal. Despite the early lead, the Storm would battle back with two consecutive goals in the second period. Former Spirit forward Tim Priamo and winger Brandon Buck tallied the goals, giving Guelph a 2-1lead entering the game's final frame.

The Spirit would fire off four goals in the third period to seal the victory. Pleckaitis posted his second goal of the night with a goal :28 seconds into the period, courtesy assists from Szwarz and Murovich. A Spirit power play provided the opportunity for Saginaw to re-take the lead at the 11:55 mark, thanks to Kyle Bochek's fifteenth tally of the season. Murovich and defenseman Adam Comrie (NHL FLORIDA PATHERS) earned the assists on the goal. Murovich would chip in his fourth point of the night with a goal moments later, at 13:03 in the period, thanks to assists from Pleckaitis and Szwarz. It was Murovich's twenty-fifth goal of the season.

The Storm were not content to stand idle however, fighting back in the later part of the period to close the scoring gap to 4-3. Priamo notched the goal courtesy winger Matt Kennedy. The goal also marked Kennedy's third assist on the night. Saginaw winger Chris Chappell stymied the Storm comeback, scoring an unassisted empty net goal at the 19:47 mark to seal the 5-3 Spirit victory.

Saginaw goalie Edward Pasquale posted 34 saves on 37 shots, with Storm netminder Brandon Foote notching 18 saves on 23 shots.

Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill Three Stars of the Game*:

1. Joe Pleckaitis (SAG) 2. Tim Priamo (GUE) 3. Tyler Murovich (SAG)

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2009


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