By Matthew Wesolowski
Saginaw, Mich. – The Saginaw Spirit (34-24-2-2) won 3-1 over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (18-29-9-6) Saturday, March 11, at the Dow Event Center in front of a season-high 5,565 fans.
Saginaw’s Calem Mangone scored two goals and Hunter Haight earned three assists. Tristan Lennox got the start for the Spirit, stopping 27 of 28 shots faced. Owen Allard potted the lone Greyhound goal while Charlie Schenkel ljust et in two goals on 37 shots.
The game began with Saginaw striking early at 4:11. Hunter Haight passed to Calem Mangone at the center of the circles. The winger wasted no time by rifling a shot top shelf over Schenkel’s blocker for his 13th of the season.
The Soo went down a skater after Ryan Thompson went to the box for tripping at 9:35 in the first period. Saginaw could not add to their lead on the chance.
A few minutes later, the Greyhounds got a man-advantage after PJ Forgione was called for slashing at 13:53 in the opening frame. The Spirit killed off the chance with several clearing attempts.
At the end of the first period, Saginaw held a 12-6 shot advantage along with a 1-0 lead of the game.
The second period started with the Spirit making it 2-0 at 5:36. Hunter Haight received a pass from Joey Willis and he sent the puck to his left. A Soo skater attempted to intercept the puck but Dean Loukus won out. The Michigan native paitently waited and then ripped a shot over Schenkel’s glove for his 17th of the season.
Mitchell Smith took a high sticking call at 8:15 in the second frame, giving the Soo a powerplay. Saginaw successfully held the Soo scoreless on the chance.
The Hounds got on the board at 10:50 in the middle period. Alex Kostov gave Connor Clattenburg the puck in the neutral zone. The winger lost control of the puck but not before he sent a diving pass to his right. Owen Allard recovered the puck and potted his second of the season on a backhand under Lennox’s glove.
Jordan D’intino committed tripping penalty at 17:18 in the middle frame, which gave Saginaw a man-advantage. The Soo held the Spirit scoreless on the chance.
After 40 minutes, Saginaw led 2-1 with a 25-18 shot advantage.
The third period opened with the Spirit down a skater after Mitchell Smith went to the box for high sticking at 1:40. Saginaw held the Soo scoreless on the chance.
Later in the period, the Spirit earned a man-advantage after Jordan D’intino took a cross checking call at 14:38 in the third frame. The Greyhounds withstood the extra offense and killed off the penalty.
Schenkel skated to the bench for an extra attacker with under two minutes to go. Saginaw capitalized on the empty net and made it 3-1 courtesy of Calem Mangone. Joey Willis and Hunter Haight both earned assists on the goal.
The game ended with Saginaw winning 3-1 with a 38-28 shot advantage. With the victory, Saginaw improves to 34-24-2-2 on the season.
The Spirit venture out on the road next as they take on the Windsor Spitfires Wednesday, March 15 at the WFCU Centre. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
