OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Lose Despite Late Game Heroics

February 25, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


The Saginaw Spirit suffered a 4-3 loss to the Kitchener Rangers at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Friday night, the loss coming on the heels of a valiant comeback attempt that saw the Spirit score three unanswered goals after finding themselves down 4-0 late in the third period. Center John McFarland earned the game's third star honors with a goal and two assists, and center Ivan Telegin proved the catalyst up front with his third period goal sparking the Spirit comeback attempt. The Spirit lead the OHL West Division with 78 points and a 37-18-3-1 record, seven points ahead of the Windsor Spitfires (71 points) and nine points ahead of the Plymouth Whalers (69 points) for control of the division.

The Rangers would take a four goal lead by the middle of the third period, with their goal scoring spread out amongst four different skaters. Winger Gabriel Landeskog tallied a power play goal at 10:47 in the first period from winger Jason Akeson and winger Jerry D'Amigo, and with that assist Akeson became the first OHL player to hit 100 points this season. Former Spirit blueliner Cody Sol made it 2-0 Kitchener with a goal at 7:18 in the second, courtesy assists from Akeson and winger Tyler Randell. D'Amigo opened the third period with a goal :10 seconds into the frame, with assists coming from defenseman Ryan Murphy and Landeskog, then Kitchener's Randell finished out the Rangers scoring with a goal at 6:35 in the third from defenseman Jonathan Jasper and Akeson.

The Spirit would mount a big comeback attempt late in the third period to the tune of three unanswered goals, however despite the effort the team was unable to tie up the contest and push for overtime. Center Ivan Telegin broke the shutout at 12:18 with a power play goal from center John McFarland and defenseman Ben Chiarot, then at the 16:52 mark McFarland would score his twenty-third of the season from defenseman Brandon Archibald to make it 4-2. Winger Brandon Saad would further reduce the deficit, taking the score to 4-3, with a goal at the 19:11 mark from McFarland and defenseman Ryan O'Connor.

Spirit netminder Mavric Parks tallied 28 saves on 32 shots, while Rangers goalie Brandon Maxwell made 26 saves on 29 shots.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2011


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