OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Sweep Home-And-Home Series with Flint in Front of a Sellout Crowd in Saginaw

Published on February 2, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit erased a two-goal deficit in the first period Saturday to rally past the Flint Firebirds, 6-4, in front of a record-setting crowd of 5,622 at The Dow Event Center.

The comeback affair extended the Spirit's point streak to 16 games against their in-state rival dating back to the 2016-17 season.

Saginaw is within two points of the OHL West Division lead and has surpassed its season points total from last season following its first game back home since playing five straight on the road.

Ethan Keppen was credited with the opening goal at 5:38 in the first period, but much of the go-ahead lead for the Firebirds was caused by starter Tristan Lennox, who kicked in the puck after being unable to make the glove save.

It's the second time in the eight-game series that the Spirit has trailed first against Flint.

Lennox, the 2018 OHL Priority Selection second-round (26th overall) pick, recorded 33 saves in his seventh start this season.

With a 4-1-1-1 record and 0.906 save percentage (SAV%), the 16-year-old yields the lowest goals against average (GAA) among first-year goaltenders at 2.58.

Blade Jenkins would end a five-game stretch without a goal on a tip-in at 17:07.

Bringing the Spirit back to within one less than 30 seconds after Jacob Winterton's shortside goal made it 2-0, Jenkins scored his 19th of the season, now tied for fourth on the team with Minnesota Wild prospect Damien Giroux.

The 2018 New York Islanders fifth-round (134th overall) pick finished with five points in the three games prior to the 10-day road swing.

Camaryn Baber tied the score with 1:20 to play for his second goal in back-to-back nights.

Receiving first-star honors on two points in the 4-2 win Friday in Flint, Baber fired a wrist shot in the slot for his third in five games and second straight multi-point outing.

The second-year forward has played a considerable amount of time on the fourth line while Danny Katic is out due to injury.

Saginaw's first lead of the game came at 3:36 in the second as Albert Michnac capitalized on a cross-ice pass from Baber.

It's the 13th game this year and second against the Firebirds that Michnac has recorded two points or more since coming over from the Mississauga Steelheads via trade last offseason.

Cole Coskey made it four unanswered at 11:51 with a backhanded shot in the left circle for his team-leading 28th goal and 59th point.

Coskey has gone just two games without a point since January 11. His first career hat trick came against Flint, the same night the Spirit captured the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup for the second straight year on January 2.

The Firebirds responded with goals by Ethan Keppen and Eric Uba with 7:07 and 2:25 left in the second, respectively, for the 4-4 tie.

Lennox had only allowed four goals or more in one start leading up to Saturday.

A pass right on the nose from trade deadline acquisition Owen Tippett to 2017 Detroit Red Wings seventh rounder Brady Gilmour led to the breakaway opportunity with Cole Perfetti.

The 2-on-1 rush with 56.4 seconds remaining saw Perfetti notch his third goal in three games for the game-winner and 22 on the season.

Perfetti, the rookie fifth overall selection, is five away from tying Jan Mursak for the most single-season goals among all first-year players in franchise history.

Saginaw killed five penalties and were down two men on three different occasions in the first and third periods, including with 2:15 left to play once Nicholas Porco was called for goaltender interference and Flint sent out an extra attacker.

The threat ended once rookie defenseman Mason Millman scored on the empty netter for his second goal against the Firebirds this season.

Shots on goal favored the Spirit, 52-37.

Defenseman Caleb Everett made his return to the lineup after missing the first 49 games with an upper body injury.

While he did not see time on the ice, Saturday marked the first time that the 19-year-old native of Pleasant, Lake, Michigan, was not a scratch this season.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Albert Michnac (SAG) - G, A, +2

Camaryn Baber (SAG) - G, A, +2

Ethan Keppen (FLNT) - 2G

Saginaw concludes its eight-game regular-season series with the Windsor Spitfires next Thursday at the WFCU Centre. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:05pm (EST).

Listen live on the flagship WSGW 100.5 FM Talk & Sports and fmtalk1005.com with Joey Battaino and Dennis Desrosiers. Pre-game coverage starts at 6:45 p.m. (EST).

The Spirit scored a combined 10 goals in back-to-back wins at home against its West Division rival on January 12 and 20.

Fans can visit the Buffalo Wild Wings location at 2690 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw and join the official "Watch Party" for all Spirit away games. Admission is free of charge.

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

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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