OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Third Period Comeback Falls Short in 6-3 Loss to Sting

February 19, 2022 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw, Mich. - A valiant third period effort from the Saginaw Spirit Saturday night could not undue a five-goal deficit and the Sarnia Sting skated away with a 6-3 decision in front of 4,022 at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw.

The Spirit set out to end a four-game skid and close the seven-point gap between themselves and the Sarnia Sting in the standings Saturday night. Sarnia had other ideas. It was a relatively even opening period of play until the Sting scored two goals in a matter of 37 seconds. Nolan DeGurse (14,15) opened the scoring with his first of two goals on the night at 15:46. He followed up a shot from Ethan Ritchie that was not handled cleanly by Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke, and jammed the puck past his pad. Toronto Maple Leaf prospect Ty Voit also drew an assist on the goal. Marko Sikic came right back and scored his eighth goal of the season when his shot from the right circle deflected off a Spirit defenseman's stick and changed the direction on Oke. Sarnia outshot the Spirit 13-9 and held a 2-0 after going into the first break.

The Sting would extend their lead to five goals with three, second period tallies. Josh Vogelsberg (2) scored on an odd-man rush, Ethan Ritchie scored his seventh of the year on the power play, and Max Namestnikov filled in his seventh of the year on a partial breakaway. The Sting outshot the Spirit 10-5 in the middle stanza and lead 5-0.

Saginaw came to life in the third period starting with a pretty power play rush from Josh Bloom and Pavel Mintyukov. Bloom's pass sent Mintyukov in on the left wing side and he fired in his ninth goal of the season. Andrew Oke also earned his first OHL point on the Mintyukov goal. Just 1:09 later, Ian Phillips scored his third goal of the season on a wrist shot past Ben Gaudreau's blocker to make it 5-2. Just 2:31 later, Dalton Duhart made a solo rush into the Sarnia zone and set up Buffalo Sabres prospect Josh Bloom for his team-leading 21st goal of the season. With Saginaw taking some chances defensively to try to cut the lead to one, they gave up the sixth goal at 14:48, when Nolan DeGurse scored his second of the night and fourth point to put the game out of reach.

Saginaw faces the Windsor Spitfires next on Monday afternoon in Windsor. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. The Spirit return home this Friday and Saturday for Ice Blast Weekend against the Erie Otters. Puck drop on both nights is 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2022


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