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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Take Game Two of the 2018-19 Coors Light I-75 Divide Series in Convincing Fashion

October 20, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit scores against the Flint Firebirds
Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit scores against the Flint Firebirds
(Saginaw Spirit)

Saginaw, Michigan - Saturday evening marked the return of the Coors Light I-75 Divide Rivalry to The Dow Event Center, when the Saginaw Spirit took on the Flint Firebirds for the second time this season. Saginaw was victorious in the first meeting this season, 6-2 at Dort Federal Event Center.

Saginaw jumped on Flint early scoring less than five minutes into the opening period. Detroit Red Wings prospect Brady Gilmour slid the puck past a Flint defender over to Albert Michnac who came down alone on Flint goaltender Emanuel Vella. Saginaw's leading scorer Michnac took a shot near the left face-off dot that beat the goaltender just under the blocker for a 1-0 lead. Michnac continued his league-best 12-game point streak with the goal.

Saginaw scored their second goal just 27 seconds later off a three-on-two odd rush. Minnesota Wild prospect Damien Giroux was trailing the play and received a pass from New York Islanders prospect Blade Jenkins at the top of the left circle and beat Vella over his glove. Saginaw's 2017 first round pick Nicholas Porco received the secondary assist on the goal.

With 9:10 remaining in the period, Brady Gilmour gave Saginaw a three-goal lead after he received a pass from Albert Michnac to the top of the left faceoff circle and beat the goaltender short side with a wrist shot over the blocker.

Saginaw received their fourth goal from Max Grondin with just over five minutes left in the period. Detroit Red Wings' prospect Reilly Webb received the primary assist after he took a shot from the right point, the rebound slid left to Grondin at the top of crease and he hammered the puck into the open side of the net. Dexter, Michigan's D.J. Busdeker was awarded with the other assist on the play.

Saginaw took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission and outshot Flint, 18-8.

After Dallas Stars prospect Ty Dellandrea was called for a trip early in the second period, Saginaw's 2018 first round pick Cole Perfetti scored his sixth goal of the year. Perfetti took a pass from Gilmour from the left circle and took a wrist shot from the faceoff dot that beat Vella. Perfetti came into the game second among all OHL rookies in scoring.

Arizona Coyotes prospect Ivan Prosvetov was strong in the net for the Spirit. With just over 10 minutes left in the game Flint's Eric Uba came down all alone in the Spirit zone and took a shot from the top of the right circle that Prosvetov deflected with his blocker to preserve the shut out.

With 9:15 remaining in the third period Cole Perfetti gave Saginaw a 6-0 lead with his second goal of the game. After alternate captain D.J. Busdeker dropped the puck off to Aidan Prueter in the corner, Prueter made a heads up pass to the slot where Perfetti made a beautiful deke to the left to beat the goaltender.

Perfetti had a couple chances to complete the hat trick near the end of the game but couldn't quite finish the last goal. The rookie from Whitby, Ontario now has seven goals on the year, good for second in the OHL among rookies behind Ottawa's Marco Rossi.

Prosvetov collected his first career OHL shutout in the win. The Moscow, Russia native goaltender made 19 saves for his fifth win of the season and first OHL shutout.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

1. Cole Perfetti - SAG - 2G

2. Ivan Prosvetov - SAG - 19 saves, SO W

3. Brady Gilmour - SAG - G, 2A

Saginaw returns to The Dow Event Center Saturday, October 27 to take on the Niagara Ice Dogs for the annual St. Mary's of Michigan and Ascension Pink Out Game. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. There will be a give away item and a post-game jersey auction with proceeds going to the St. Mary's of Michigan Breast Cancer Fund.

For tickets to any Saginaw Spirit home game call (989) 497-7747, visit www.saginawspirit.com, or by visiting the Saginaw Spirit Store at 5789 State Street, Saginaw, MI.

For tickets and more information:

Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information. YOUR Region. YOUR team. YOU'RE invited.

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Images from this story

Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit scores against the Flint Firebirds
Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit scores against the Flint Firebirds
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2018


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