OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Sweep the Spits with Overtime Victory Saturday Night

Published on November 27, 2021 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, MI - The Saginaw Spirit (10-7-1-0) completed a sweep of a weekend home-and-home series with the Windsor Spitfires (8-8-1-2) Saturday night after a 6-5 overtime win at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, MI. Saginaw's shorthanded goal scoring specialist Josh Bloom added his sixth goal while killing a penalty this season to go along with an even strength goal and two assists. Five Spirit players had multi-point efforts, including 2022 NHL Draft Eligible Pavel Mintyukov, who extended his points streak to six games with two assists on the night. Rookie Calem Mangone scored the game's winning goal at 3:01 of overtime to give the Spirit the extra point.

Coming off of a wild, 6-5 outcome the night before in Windsor, the Spirit and Spitfires held a tight-checking start Saturday as the scene shifted to Saginaw. Special Teams was the story of the opening frame, as both teams had multiple chances with the man advantage. It was the Spits to connect first on a deflection from Kyle McDonald at 15:39 of the period. Louka Henault and Wyatt Johnston assisted on McDonald's 12th goal of the season. Later in the period, Windsor's Michael Renwick was called for tripping and an unsportsmanlike penalty at 16:42, giving Saginaw a five-on-three advantage for a full two minutes. Finally, the Spirit took advantage at 18:30 on a Dalton Duhart shot from the left wing that found a hole between the pads of Matt Tovell. The Spits outshot the Spirit 10-9 in the opening frame, but the score remained tied 1-1.

The Spirit blew the game open in the second period the night before, tying a season-high with a five-goal period. Saginaw would nearly repeat that tonight, but first it was the Spits would took a 2-1 lead on a Christopher O'Flaherty goal at 6:20 of the period. Just 3:08 later, the Spirit's leading scorer Josh Bloom got the game back to square, finishing a nice seam pass from Roberto Mancini. Pavel Mintyukov added an assist on the Bloom goal as well. The Bloom goal was the first of four straights to enter the Spits net, as Nick Wong, Matyas Sapovaliv, and another from Bloom, this time shorthanded, put the Spirit in a 5-2 lead. With the Spits on a power play, New York Rangers prospect Will Cuylle scored to make it 5-3 going into intermission.

Windsor again put on a third period push, scoring at 1:42 on a power play and again at 5:01 to tie the game, 5-5. Overage Daniel D'Amico and Oliver Peer scoring the goals for the Spitfires. The goalies stood tall through regulation to halt the scoring and send Saginaw to just their second overtime game of the season.

While in overtime, the Spitfires mostly controlled the puck, but the Spirit took it away in their zone. Roberto Mancini dropped the puck off to Josh Bloom, who found Calem Mangone in the slot, to beat Tovell and win the game for the Spirit, 6-5.

The Spirit's next home contest will be Thursday, Dec. 2 when they welcome the Flint Firebirds, as the Coors Light I-75 Divide Cup continues. The Spirit lead the season series, three games to one. Student and Military rush tickets will be available for only $7 with proper identification. For more information, log on to saginawspirit.com

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 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

Fans with any questions or concerns about fan protocols may call the Spirit at (989) 497-7747 or email info@saginawspirit.com.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 27, 2021


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