Spirit Travel to Sarnia for Final Road Game of Season
Published on April 15, 2022 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release
Saginaw, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (23-42-1-0) travel to Sarnia for their final road test of the season against the Sting (26-35-4-1) at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Head-to-Head
Tonight is the final of eight meetings between these two West Division rivals. Saginaw is 3-4-0-0 against the Sting this season, but two of their victories of Sarnia have come on the road at Progressive Auto Sales Arena, including a stunning 9-8 comeback overtime victory on Mar. 25. With just over three minutes to play, Saginaw was down by four goals. Goals from Smith, Loukus, Mintyukov, and Duhart set the stage for the dramatic overtime winner from overage forward Dalton Duhart. His fourth goal of the game was the most in a single-game for a Spirit player this season. The teams most recently tangled on April 2, a 5-4 Spirit win in Saginaw. Mitchell Smith provided the game-winning goal in the third period for his second goal of the game. Smith has been scoring on a torrid pace to cap the 2021-22 season. The Saginaw native has six goals and six assists in his last eight games.
Last Time Out
Saginaw: The Spirit faced a tough task Saturday night against the Conference-leading Windsor Spitfires. The Spits were on a season-long, league-high, 12-game winning streak. Their powerful offense went to work early, gaining a 3-0 lead early into the second period. The Spirit never-say-die attitude shone threw in the second and third when goals from Dean Loukus (21), Luke McNamara (7), and Roberto Mancini (11) tied the game. Late in the third period, Windsor grabbed the lead for good when Oliver Peer split the Spirit defense and scored his sixth goal of the season. Ryan Abraham capped off the Spitfires 13th win in a row with an empty net goal in the final minute.
Sarnia: The Sting were last in action Tuesday, trying to add to their slim lead on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They had the difficult task of playing the Flint Firebirds on the road, a building that they had only won in once this season. After a scoreless first period, each team scored twice in the middle frame, with Alexis Daviault and Marko Sikic lighting the lamp for the Sting. Sarnia was dominated in the third period however, being outshot 17-5 and outscored by two, resulting in a second 4-2 loss to the Firebirds in a row. Since the Spirit 9-8 comeback overtime loss, Sarnia is 1-8-0-0 as they try to hold off the Erie Otters for the final playoff spot.
Broadcast Information
Watch: CHL TV
Listen: 100.5 WSGW-FM | WSGW.com
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2022
- Spirit Fall in Final Road Contest, 7-1 - Saginaw Spirit
- Firebirds Fall 6-3 to Greyhounds in Chippy Friday Night Tilt - Flint Firebirds
- Rangers Come up Short to Storm in Overtime - Kitchener Rangers
- Bulldogs Finish Home Half with 50th Victory - Brantford Bulldogs
- Spitfires Fall to the Otters 3-2 in OT - Windsor Spitfires
- Erie Snaps Windsor 13-Game Streak, Eye Playoff Bid against Hamilton - Erie Otters
- IceDogs Outdistanced by Hamilton - Niagara IceDogs
- 2022 OHL Playoff Tracker: First Round Schedules and Scenarios - OHL
- Firebirds Host Greyhounds Friday and Saturday to Conclude Regular Season - Flint Firebirds
- Spirit Travel to Sarnia for Final Road Game of Season - Saginaw Spirit
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