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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Put Sting on the Brink of Elimination in 6-1 Victory

March 26, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Sarnia, ON - The Saginaw Spirit take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Sarnia Sting with a 6-1 victory Tuesday evening.

The Spirit set a team-record with three short-handed goals in the game.

Ivan Prosvetov continued his strong post-season play with 34 saves in the win. The Arizona Coyotes fourth round pick has a 1.81 goals against average and .950 save percentage in the post-season.

The physical play from game two carried over to game three with 16 penalties and three misconducts.

Saginaw captain Damien Giroux collected first-star honors for the second-straight game with a short-handed second period goal and plus/minus of plus-two.

The Spirit can close out the round one series with the Sting on the road Thursday, March 28.

2017 Florida Panthers 10th overall pick Owen Tippett opened the scoring early in the first period with his team-leading fourth goal of the playoffs. Detroit Red Wings draft pick Reilly Webb's shot hit Tippett in the slot, the Spirit right-winger collected the puck and sniped a shot into the top-right corner.

Saginaw's line of Edmonton Oilers prospect Ryan McLeod, rookie Cole Perfetti and Tippett buzzed early with several scoring chances before the Spirit opened the scoring.

Arizona Coyotes fourth round pick Ivan Prosvetov made huge saves for the Spirit in the first period. One of the biggest came right after the Spirit took the lead on a two-on-one rush.

Overager Franco Sproviero sent a saucer pass over to Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ryan McGregor. McGregor, the Sarnia team captain, attempted a deke around Prosvetov, but the Russian net-minder extended his skate to make an incredible toe save to keep the Spirit on top.

Saginaw took a two-goal lead 10:56 into the first period with Camaryn Baber's first career OHL Playoff goal. The Spirit center intercepted an outlet pass in the Sarnia zone and picked the top-corner perfectly with a nice wrist shot.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Baber played well heading into the playoffs, with nine points in his last 10 games to finish the regular season.

Justin McCombs put the Sting on the board just 25 seconds after the Baber goal. After Prosvetov made the initial save on Anthony Tabak, McCombs slammed the rebound into the open net.

Saginaw was outshot by Sarnia, 11-9 in the first period but took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

Tippett continued to wreak havoc against Sarnia in the second period. The Spirit forward made deked around two Sting defenders into the Sarnia zone. Tippett snapped a shot that Sarnia's net-minder Ethan Langevin snatched out of the air to keep the Sting within one goal.

Sarnia's leading playoff scorer Hugo Leufvenius nearly tied the game midway through the second period. The Swedish forward snapped a shot in the shot that Prosvetov deflected into the corner with a nice blocker save.

The overager Leufvenius had another glorious chance point-blank in the shot with just over six minutes remaining in the second period. Saginaw goaltender Prosvetov fought off the Leufvenius shot and made a spectacular glove save.

While Saginaw defenseman Justin Murray was serving a holding penalty, Minnesota Wild draft pick Damien Giroux notched a short-handed goal to give the Spirit a 3-1 lead.

The Spirit captain's work ethic showed his work ethic with a takeaway in the Sarnia defensive zone. Giroux skated around the Sting net and capitalized on a wraparound for his third tally of the post-season.

Saginaw scored their second short-handed goal of the game just over five minutes into the final frame. Detroit Red Wings prospect Brady Gilmour skated into the Sting end and patiently found overager Justin Murray at the top of the slot. Murray's wrist shot from the top of the left face-off circle beat Langevin top shelf to make it 4-1.

Overage defenseman Reagan O'Grady collected the Spirit's third short-handed goal of the game at 12:15 of the third period. Baber made a great individual effort to come out of the Sarnia corner with the puck and four O'Grady in the slot for the easy tip-in goal.

With three short-handed goals, Saginaw set a playoff team-record for the most short-handed goals in a single game.

The West Division rivals ramped up the physical play in the third period. By the end of the game, the teams combined for 16 penalties with three misconducts.

The Spirit's Jake Goldowski added a power play goal with less than three minutes left in regulation to give Saginaw a 6-1 victory.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Damien Giroux (SAG) G, +2

Camaryn Baber (SAG) G, A +2

Justin Murray (SAG) G, A +2

The Saginaw Spirit have a chance to close out the series on the road in game four Thursday, March 28. Puck drop from The Progressive Auto Sales Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.

Fans can follow all the action on the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk and Sports and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers on the call. "Countdown to Face-off" begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop for all your pregame coverage.

Fans can watch the game live from the Saginaw Spirit "Watch Party" from the 2690 Tittabawassee Road Buffalo Wild Wings location.

If necessary, the Spirit will return home to The Dow Event Center for Game Five on Saturday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m.

To purchase tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989) 497-7747, visit saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

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