OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Push Knights to the Brink, Fall 6-5 on the Road

March 14, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


London, Ont. - The Saginaw Spirit (18-35-1-0) lost a hard-fought battle with the London Knights (33-17-2-0) 6-5, Monday evening in front of 8,849 fans at Budweiser Gardens in London. The Spirit earned two goal performances from Dean Loukus and 2021 first round pick Luke McNamara. London Knights stars Luke Evangelista and Antonio Stranges each scored two goals and two assist.

The Spirit found themselves in an early hole when 1:09 into the contest, Sean McGurn (16) tapped in a rebound setup by Stranges and Kirill Steklov. Rookie Brett Fullerton settled in after that, and kept the Knights off of the scoresheet for the remainder of the period. While shorthanded, the Spirit accrued their 15th shorthanded tally of the season when Deal Loukus (18) finished off a two-on-one with Dalton Duhart. The Spirit outshot the Knights, 9-8 in the opening frame and held the 1-1 tie going into the second period.

In a tight checking second period, the Knights finally broke out to take the lead at 10:47 when Antonio Stranges (22) finished off a two-on-one break with Luke Evangelista. The Spirit once again outshot the Knights in the middle frame, but trailed 2-1 going into the final period.

A wild, eight goal third period began with the Knights going up by two goals at 5:42 on rookie Denver Barkey's sixth goal of the season. Former Spirit Cam Baber and San Jose Sharks prospect Liam Gilmartin. Just 28 seconds later, Luke McNamara scored his third goal of the season on a rebound off a PJ Forgione shot. 59 seconds later, Luke Evangelista scored his 46th goal of the season unassisted to put the Knights back in a two-goal lead. Sebastien Gervais made it 4-3 London with a goal off a rebound from an Evan Klein shot. Nick Wong also drew an assist on the play for the Spirit. 15 seconds later, a fortuitous bounce for the Spirit off of Dean Loukus gave him his second goal of the game on a Brayden Hislop shot that went in off his foot to tie the game up, 4-4. Evangelista struck again at 13:07 on a Knights power play beating Fullerton from the right wing circle. Just over a minute later, what appeared to be an icing call on the Knights was waved off and allowed the Knights to set up Stranges for his second of the game and 23rd of the season. With Fullerton on the bench, the Spirit mounted a surge and brought the Knights lead back to one on McNamara's second goal of the night.

The Knights held on for a 6-5 decision Monday night at Budweiser Gardens. The Spirit next skate Wednesday in Saginaw against the Kitchener Rangers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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