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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Shutout by Lalonde, Otters Saturday Night

February 26, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - After scoring a season-high eight goals Friday night, the Spirit offense was shut down this evening by goaltender Nolan Lalonde and the Erie Otters in a 2-0 decision in front of 4,384 fans at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.

Both goaltenders played extremely well this evening, beginning in the opening frame. The Spirit and Otters didn't offer many puck at the net early on, but it was Saginaw's Tristan Lennox who face nine in a row for a 10-minute stretch of the first period. Even while shorthanded, Lennox and the Spirit answered the call when Brayden Hislop was whistled for tripping at 4:34. Saginaw had an answer late in the period, as they poured on the final four shots of the period, only to be thwarted by Lalonde. The first period was scoreless with Erie outshooting the Spirit, 9-5.

Saginaw enjoyed four power play opportunities in the middle frame, but it was while on the man advantage that they would surrender the winning goal of the game. A long pass up the ice was blocked down by overage forward Daniel D'Amato and brought into the Saginaw zone on a two-on-one. D'Amato slid a pass through to Brendan Sellan who found a hole on Lennox to make a 1-0 Otters lead. Even after the setback, the Spirit would go to work on two more power play, but this was where Lalonde stepped up. Back-to-back saves on Pavel Mintyukov and a point-blank stop on a one-timer by Josh Bloom had the Spirit specialty teams group reeling. Despite outshooting Erie 12-6 in the period, it was the Otters who led 1-0 after two periods.

The Otters play a tight, checking style in the third and frustrated Saginaw by clogging up the neutral zone. Saginaw found it difficult to sustain pressure on the Erie net. It would be Erie to get the next chance to score when Brendan Sellan was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a partical breakaway. Sellan was stopped by Lennox and the crowd responded. Off the ensuing faceoff, it appeared Erie had taken a 2-0 lead when Lennox was caught out of the net and Brendan Sellan scored from in close. After a challenge by Saginaw, the goal was waved off for goaltender interference. With new life, the Spirit threatened to tie. With Lennox on the bench for an extra skater, Saginaw set up in the Erie zone, but to no avail. Eventually, the puck was played out to center ice and Noah Sedore filled the empty net for his 10th goal of the season. The Otters snapped a four-game slide with a 2-0 victory over the Spirit and split the 12-game season series between the two teams.

Saginaw plays the next three games away from home beginning Wednesday, Mar. 2 in Sarnia to face the Sting. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

The Spirit return to The Dow Event Center Friday, Mar. 11 to face the Owen Sound Attack at 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2022


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