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OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Unable to Overcome Early Deficit, Fall in Flint

October 29, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


Saginaw Spirit centre Ethan Hay vs. the Flint Firebirds
Saginaw Spirit centre Ethan Hay vs. the Flint Firebirds
(Saginaw Spirit, Credit: Natalie Shaver - OHL Images)

Flint, Mich. - The Saginaw Spirit (4-6-0-1) fell to the Flint Firebirds (5-6-1-0) by a score of 5-3 at the Dort Financial Center on Sunday, October 29th. Micheal Misa and Gavin Hayes both had a pair of goals for their respective teams. Nolan Lalonde started for the Spirit, saving 26 of 30 in the loss. Nathan Day manned the crease for the Firebirds and got his third win on the year with 22 saves.

The Firebirds opened the scoring 8:10 into the period on a goal by Nolan Dann. Matthew Jenken started the play off by digging a puck out of a pile near the penalty box. Marko Stojkov took the pass the flipped the puck off the glass landing just in from of Dann near the blue line. Nolan Dann rushed into the zone, found space, and wristed a shot past Spirit goaltender Nolan Lalonde for the 1-0 lead.

Flint extended their lead less than a minute later following a takeaway near their blue line by Tristan Bertucci. The defenseman rushed up ice and threw a pass a pass into the crease for Braeden Kressler to slap home past Lalonde, lifting Flint to a 2-0 lead.

At 16:19 into the first, Marko Stojkov passed the puck cross blue line for Braeden Kressler who attempted a shot on goal. The puck bounced and rolled its way into Lalonde's pads, then right out to Gavin Hayes. He made no mistake and slammed it home for his fifth on the year and a 3-0 lead.

Saginaw would respond with less than five seconds left in the period when Roberto Mancini drifted behind the net and up to the right point. At the blue line, Mancini flung the puck toward the net. Micheal Misa, standing in front, tipped the puck over the glove of Firebirds' goaltender Nathan Day and into the net. Misa's fifth of the season got Saginaw back within two goals.

At the end of the first, the Flint Firebirds led the Saginaw Spirit 3-1. Shots were 14-5 in favor of the Firebirds going into the second period.

Flint continued their scoring ways 5:48 into the second period. Zacharie Giroux skated the puck into the Saginaw zone, and slide short pass to Gavin Hayes. His snapshot found a hole on the right post of Lalonde and trickled past the line for his sixth of the year. This goal brought the Firebirds back up to a three-goal lead in a 4-1 game.

At 9:30 into the period, Braeden Kressler committed a hooking penalty and set the number one play in the OHL with an opportunity. The Spirit took advantage after Matyas Sapovaliv took a pass near the point from Calem Mangone and passed it straight back. Mangone took the pass near the left circle and centered the puck to the mid-slot. Micheal Misa was waiting and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Flint's Nathan Day and into the net for his second of the night. Misa's sixth of the year brought the Spirit back to within two by a score of 4-2.

Late into the period, Roberto Mancini and Matyas Sapovaliv received penalties at 18:08 and 18:58 in the second. This set the Firebirds with a short five on three power-play that would roll over into the third period.

At the conclusion of the third period, the Flint Firebirds continued to lead the Saginaw Spirit, 4-2, while outshooting their rivals 21-13 in the game.

The third period saw both teams race up and down the ice until late into the third period, the Saginaw Spirit found themself in a four-on-four opportunity and an ensuing power-play. Saginaw pulled goaltender Nolan Lalonde and opted for the extra skater. The Spirit were unable to score on the power-play and eventually gave up an empty netter to Zacharie Giroux for his team leading seventh on the year and setting a 5-2 lead.

At 19:33 into the third, Lincoln Moore tipped a point shot from Will Bishop and past goaltender Nathan Day for his second of the year, cementing a 5-3 final scoreline.

This loss dropped Saginaw Spirit to 4-6-0-1 and lifted the Flint Firebirds to 5-6-1-0 on the year.

The Spirit now turn their attention to the Erie Otters as they host them on Thursday, November 2nd at the Dow Event Center. Puck drop is at 7:05pm.

For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Images from this story

Saginaw Spirit centre Ethan Hay vs. the Flint Firebirds
Saginaw Spirit centre Ethan Hay vs. the Flint Firebirds
(Natalie Shaver - OHL Images)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2023


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