Preview: First-place Spirit hit the road to face London; begin three games in three nights Friday
London, ON. – The Western Conference leading Saginaw Spirit (8-4-1-0, 17 pts.) takes a four-game win streak on the road to battle the London Knights (4-4-1-0, 9 pts.) Friday, October 25. Puck drop for the team’s second meeting of the season begins at 7:30 p.m. from the Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario.
Saginaw scored five third period goals en route to a 6-3 victory in the first game against London back on October 12 at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw.
The game will feature the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) top two man-power advantages in Saginaw and London. Saginaw, the OHL’s top power play, has converted at a 34.7% clip for a league-best 17 power play goals. The Knights power play comes into play sporting a 33.3% conversion rate, good for second in the OHL.
Fans can catch all the action on the flagship WSGW Newsradio 100.5 FM and www.wsgw.com with the voice of Saginaw Spirit hockey Joey Battaino on the call. “Countdown to Face-off” begins at 7:15, prior to puck drop.
Fans can visit the Buffalo Wild Wings location at 2690 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw and join the official “Watch Party” for all Spirit away games. Admission is free of charge.
The Saginaw Spirit triumphed over the Kitchener Rangers, 5-3 in their last game on Saturday, October 19. The Cole Perfetti, Damien Giroux, and Cole Coskey line combined for four goals and 11 points in the victory over the Rangers.
2020 NHL Draft top-prospect Perfetti has produced multi-point efforts in the last four games. The forward scored four goals and nine assists for 13 points during the stretch. The 2018 Saginaw Spirit fifth-overall pick is ranked third in the OHL with 24 points this season.
The Whitby, Ontario native was selected to represent Team OHL in the upcoming CIBC Canada Russia Series, where some of the top Canadian players in the CHL will compete against the Russian National Junior Team.
Giroux, the 2018 fifth round pick of the Minnesota Wild, is third in the OHL with 12 goals this season. The Spirit captain has scored five goals in the last four games, including a two-goal effort against the Knights back on October 12.
New York Islanders prospect Coskey supplied a goal and three assists in the victory over the Rangers Saturday night. The Zion, Illinois native ranks seventh among OHL players with 21 points this season. Giroux and Coskey are currently tied for the league lead in powerplay goals this season.
2019 Saginaw Spirit first round CHL Import Draft pick Ilya Solovyov is first among OHL defensemen with 18 assists and 19 points this season. The Belarusian defenseman has been held scoreless in just three of the 13 games played this season.
Philadelphia Flyers prospect Mason Millman has scored goals in the last two games for the Spirit. During the Spirit’s current four-game win streak, the defenseman has a plus/minus of plus-six. Millman has two goals and three assists for five points in the last two games.
The Knights are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Kingston Frontenacs Saturday evening on home ice. London outshot Kingston, 40-18 and scored twice two goals in all three periods.
It was a game of firsts for Luke Evangelista, after the London right-winger scored his first career OHL goal, but finished with a hat trick in the victory over Kingston. The second-year forward has 11 points in just nine games this season.
Washington Capitals signee Connor McMichael leads the London Knights in goals (9), assists (9), and points (18) this season. McMichael contributed a goal and two assists in the victory over the Frontenacs and was honored with the game’s second star. The Spirit are the only team to hold the London center scoreless in a game this season.
West Bloomfield, Michigan native Alex Regula leads the London defensive core with 11 points this season. The Detroit Red Wings prospect is third on the London Knights with four goals in just seven games.
San Jose Sharks signee Ryan Merkley has nine points in 11 games for the Knights this year. The former Guelph Storm first overall pick was second among OHL defenseman last season with 71 points.
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.
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.
