OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Winning Streak Snapped in London

Published on October 25, 2019 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


London, ON. - The Western Conference leading Saginaw Spirit's win streak was ended at four games with a 5-1 defeat against the London Knights on the road at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario Friday evening.

Saginaw's top-ranked man-power advantage failed to score a powerplay goal for the first time in four games.

The Knights took the lead on the opening shift of the game with Washington Capitals signee Connor McMichael's team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Pinckney, Michigan native Hunter Skinner sent a snapshot from the right-point that Saginaw goaltender Tristan Lennox stopped with a pad save.  The rebound bounced up in the slot where McMichael hit out of midair for the goal 31 seconds into play.

Rookie forward Ethan Cardwell brought the Spirit back even with his fourth goal of the season 7:48 into the first period.

Jackson, Michigan native Blade Jenkins made a quick turnaround move on a London defender to create space in the left circle.  The New York Islanders prospect sent took a shot that Cardwell redirected into the net for the goal.

With the secondary assist, Defenseman Ilya Solovyov tied 2020 NHL Draft top-prospect Cole Perfetti with his OHL leading 19th assist.

With just 26 seconds left in the first period, 2020 NHL Draft prospect Antonio Stranges found Billy Moskal in the slot with a nice pass from behind the Saginaw net.  The London center Moskal took a quick wrist shot that beat Lennox's glove for his first goal of the season to give the Knights back the one-goal lead.

Saginaw trailed after one period of play, 2-1 and was outshot by the Knights, 10-6 in the opening frame.

Lennox was tested early in the second frame on a point-blank shot from the slot by Matvey Guskov.  San Jose Sharks first round pick Ryan Merkley sent a pass for Guskov to one-time in the slot.  The Spirit goaltender made a strong sliding pad save to keep Saginaw within one-goal.

Saginaw forward Danny Katic nearly tied the game just over five minutes into the second period.  Center Camaryn Baber made a nice pass from the left corner to find Katic alone in the slot.  The left-winger attempted a deke to the backhand, but the puck just rolled off Katic's stick to the side of the net.

The Spirit came within inches of tying the game just over two minutes later when Jenkins hit the crossbar.  The Saginaw center took a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Brochu but rang off the post into the corner.

London made it a two-goal lead with 6:08 on a deflection by 2018 Columbus Blue Jackets first round pick Liam Foudy.  Foudy redirected Bryce Montgomery's one-timer from the point into the top-corner for his third goal of the season to give the Knights a 3-1 lead.

The Knights extended their lead 5:12 into the third period on Josh Nelson's second goal of the season.  Kirill Steklov's point shot rebounded into the slot where Nelson sped down to take a snapshot past Lennox for the 4-1 lead.

With Merkley in the penalty box the Spirit pulled Lennox to make it a six-on-four situation with just under four minutes left in regulation.  London's McMichael iced the puck into Saginaw's empty net from the Knights zone for his second goal of the game to give the Knights the 5-1 victory.

The Spirit struggled in the face-off circle after they won just 18 of the 55 face-off drops in the game.

Applebee's Three Stars of the Game:

Connor McMichael (LDN) 2G, +2

Billy Moskal (LDN) GWG, +1

Brett Brochu (LDN) W, 25SVS

Saginaw's next home game will feature two of the top-prospects for the upcoming 2020 NHL Draft when Cole Perfetti and the Spirit take on Quinton Byfield and the Sudbury Wolves Saturday, October 26 at The Dow Event Center.  Puck drop for the first of two meetings this season begins at 7:05 p.m.

The game marks the return of the 13th annual Pink Out Game at The Dow presented by Ascension St. Mary's where the first 2,000 fans will receive a complimentary Pink Clapper.  Fans are invited to remain after the game to partake in the post-game jersey auction with the proceeds will go to the St. Mary's Breast Cancer Fund, helping to provide mammograms and ultrasounds for qualified under-insured or uninsured patients.

Fans can catch all the action on the flagship WSGW Newsradio 100.5 FM and www.fmtalk1005.com with Art Lewis and the voice of Saginaw Spirit hockey Joey Battaino on the call.  "Countdown to Face-off" begins 15 minutes prior to puck drop.

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

Check out the Saginaw Spirit Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2019


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