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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Steal a Point from the Soo, Lose 5-4 in Shootout

October 27, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (4-4-0-1) lost in a shootout to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (8-5-0-0), 5-4 at the Dow Event Center on Friday, October 27th. Micheal Misa had two goals and Ethan Hay scored his first as a member of the Spirit. Nolan Lalonde started in net for the Saginaw saving 22 of 26, while Charlie Schenkel started for the Soo, stopping 20 of 24.

Saginaw would open the scoring at 8:12 into the first when Calem Mangone chipped the puck up the left boards in the Soo zone that landed on the stick of Hunter Haight. His ensuing spin pass found Micheal Misain the center of the ice in prime scoring position. Misa's wrist shot flew past Greyhounds goaltender Charlie Schenkel and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Saginaw lead.

Sault Ste. Marie would waste no time getting the game tied up only 1:24 later. After receiving a pass from Alex Kostov, Brenden Sirizzotti circled the Saginaw defensive zone and placed a shot on goal. The shot ripped past Spirit goaltender Nolan Lalonde's glove and into the net to set a 1-1 tie.

At 12:35 the Greyhounds struck again when Connor Clattenburg received the puck in the offensive zone. His spin pass from the left circle found Justin Cloutier ahead of man in the slot. His top shelf shot slipped past Lalonde's glove and lifted Sault Ste. Marie to a 2-1 lead.

Only 2:04 later, the Greyhounds would expand their lead after Tavis Hayes found Matthew Virgillio behind the net. Virgillio circled the net and placed a pass cross-crease to Owen Allard. His shot found its way through Lalond's five-hole for Allard's fifth on the year, and the Greyhounds at a 3-1 lead.

At the end of the first period, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds led the Saginaw Spirit 3-1, with shots even a nine apiece.

Sault Ste. Marie picked up in the second period where they left the first off scoring at 5:39 into the period. Jack Beck received a lead pass into the Saginaw zone and dropped a pass to Kirill Kudryavtsev who looked toward the far side of the ice. Kudryavtsev passed to Bryce McConnell-Barker whose forehand-backhand move opened a shot that he took advantage of. This would seal his fourth goal of the year and propelled the Greyhounds to a 4-1 lead.

At 6:34 into the period, Saginaw responded to the Greyhounds' latest goal with newly acquired Ethan Hay's first with the Spirit. Hay passed the puck across ice to Nic Sima who dropped a pass for Hunter Haight near the right circle. Haight fired a pass toward the net that Hay redirected past Schenkel for his third of the year, and Saginaw's second of the game.

Saginaw would strike a second time 11:26 into the second period. Micheal Misa picked up a pass near the blue line and passed left to Matyas Sapovaliv. He would pass back cross ice to find Branden Haché near the right circle. Haché's left-handed shot rocketed past goaltender Charlie Schenkel's glove and into the net for his second on the year, and getting the Spirit to within one.

Late into the second period, Sault Ste. Marie's Jordan D'Intino received a slashing penalty giving the Spirit a 1:23 power-play entering the third period.

At the conclusion of the third period, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds continued to lead the Saginaw Spirit in goals (4-3) and shots (19-13).

The third period would see a back and forth affair with a flurry of shots by either team with neither being able to solve the other's goaltender.

At 1:39 remaining in the period, the Saginaw Spirit called a timeout still trailing by one and opted to pull goalie Nolan Lalonde in favor of the extra skater.

With 9.4 seconds remaining in the game Saginaw had an offensive zone face-off in the left dot of Sault Ste. Marie. Matyas Sapovaliv won the faceoff back to Zayne Parekh who fired a pass to Roberto Mancini. His shot was blocked by a Greyhound defender, picked up by Michael Misa, and fired home to tie the game with 5.6 remaining.

At the conclusion of the third, the Saginaw Spirit were tied with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-4 with shots being in favor of the Greyhounds 27-19.

In overtime, Greyhounds' Bryce McConnell-Barker committed a goaltender interference penalty and was issued a minor penalty with 1:57 remaining in the period.

Saginaw would not be able to convert on the power-play despite having all five of the shots on goal in overtime.

At the conclusion of the OT period, the teams remained tied at four with shots being 27-24 in favor of the Greyhounds, heading to a shootout.

The shootout began with Sault Ste. Marie's Brenden Sirizzotti's serpentine attempt found it's way past Saginaw's Nolan Lalonde to put the Greyhounds up 1-0 in the shootout.

Saginaw was unable to find a goal from Valentin Zhugin, Michael Misa, or Hunter Haight as they would fall in the shootout to the Soo, 5-4.

This win elevated Sault Ste. Marie to 8-5-0-0 and dropped Saginaw to a 4-4-0-1 record on the year.

The Saginaw Spirit's next game will be on Saturday, October 28th, at 7:05 PM, when the Spirit invite the Sarnia Sting for their second of a three-game homestand weekend.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
Saginaw Spirit's Matyas Sapovaliv in action
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2023


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