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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Snap Skid with Shootout Win in Erie

January 23, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Erie, PA - The Saginaw Spirit (14-18-1-0) earned a hard-fought two points Saturday, snapping a five-game winless streak with a 5-4 shootout win over the Erie Otters (11-18-1-2) at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.

For the second straight night, the Spirit got out to a 1-0 lead on their opponent, this time withstanding and early barrage from the Otters and scoring on their first shot of the game. Defenseman PJ Forgione collected the puck in the slot of the Erie zone and snapped the puck past Erie goaltender Marshall Nicholls for his second goal of the season. Saginaw held their lead all the way until 17:03 of the period when Vancouver Canucks prospect Connor Lockhart broke in on a two-on-one, and beat Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke over his shoulder. The Spirit were outshot 14-4 in the opening frame, but kept the score 1-1 after the first period.

In the middle stanza, the Spirit regained the lead at 7:21 when overage forward Dalton Duhart tipped a shot from Olivier Savard past Nicholls. Duhart's seventh goal of the season was also assisted by Dean Loukus. Saginaw would enjoy their first two-goal lead of the game just over five minutes later, when Duhart added a shorthanded goal to his total. Dean Loukus and Mitchell Smith assisted for an all-Michigan born connection on the Spirit's league-leading, 11th shorthanded goal of the season. It didn't take long for the pesky Otters group to answer, and before the end of the period, the game was tied once again on goals from defenseman Spencer Sova and Christian Kyrou.

The third period saw more expert goaltending from Andrew Oke. Oke was tested with point-blank opportunities all period long and stood tall to the Erie onslaught. With Oke keeping the Spirit in it, Sebastien Gervais gave the Spirit their third lead of the night at 14:40 on his third goal of the season. Pavel Mintyukov earned the primary assist with a slick pass from the slide of the net to a wide-open Gervais for a tap-in goal. Nick Wong also earned an assist on the goal. Just when it looked like the lead was safe, the Otters received a fortuitous bounce off the goal of Oke. Spencer Sova's shot deflected off of Oke's glove and into the air behind him. By the time he could react, it had bounced into the goal. Sova's second of the game tied it once again, this time at 4-4.

Puck control belonged to the Spirit for the better part of three-on-three overtime, but it was Erie's Carey Terrance who had the best opportunity to win the game in the extra period. He found himself all along in front of the net, deked to his forehand, but was beaten by Andrew Oke's right pad. The Spirit and Otters would head to a shootout.

In the shootout, the only goal that was scored came courtesy of Spirit defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, while Andrew Oke stopped all three shooters.

Oke finished the game with a career-high 42 saves in the victory.

For tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game fans can call (989) 497-7747, visit saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 6321 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2022


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