OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Take Win in First Playoff Game, beating Storm 6-5 in Double Overtime

March 21, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit came away with a win after their first game of the best-of-seven game playoff series, beating the Guelph Storm 6-5 in double overtime Saturday night at The Dow Event Center. Center Jack Combs scored the game winning goal and contributed a total of two goals and one assists in the effort, while goalie Edward Pasquale finished with 69 saves on 74 shots. The Spirit will visit the Storm in Guelph tomorrow for game two, and will return to home ice for game three on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:11 PM.

Storm winger Matt Kennedy started scoring for Guelph during the first period with a goal at 3:04, assisted by winger Brandon Buck. Spirit center Tyler Murovich answered back with a short handed goal at 4:06, assisted by winger Joe Pleckaitis, moving the score into a 1-1 tie. It wasn't long before the Spirit took the lead. Center Kyle Bochek fed the puck to center Jack Combs, who scored another goal for Saginaw at 9:24 in the first period. Storm winger Denis Hollenstein tallied a goal for Guelph at 14:06, assisted by winger Yves Bastien. The final goal of the first period was scored by Bastien at 18:12. The powerplay goal was assisted by wingers Tyler Melancon and Denis Hollenstein. The period ended with a Guelph ahead, 3-2.

Spirit winger Jordan Szwarz tallied a goal early on in the second, finding the net at 2:49. Winger Joe Pleckaitis and center Tyler Murovich assisted on the play. Following suit was Bochek, who scored a goal at 4:02 to give the Spirit the lead, 4-3. Winger Chris Chappell and center Jack Combs were credited with the assists. Saginaw stayed on top and added to the scoreboard with a goal from winger Jordan Skellett at 8:21, assisted by winger Mitch Fillman. Guelph winger Brandon Buck finished the period with a goal at 19:57, assisted by winger Matt Kennedy and defenseman Nathan Martine. The period ended with the Spirit ahead, 5-4.

Kennedy came out early into the third period scoring an unassisted goal for the Storm at 4:16 and moving the score into a 5-5 tie. The rest of the third period remained scoreless, along with the first round of overtime.

The match-up continued into the second round of overtime play and ended after Spirit center Jack Combs found the net at 18:01. Wingers Joe Pleckaitis andJakub Svoboda were credited with the assists. The Spirit finished ahead, beating the Storm 6-5. Spirit net minder Edward Pasquale posted 69 saves on 74 shots for the game. Storm goalie Brandon Foote finished with 47 saves on 53 shots.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2009


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