GAME PREVIEW: Western Conference Final Game 4 vs. London.
Saginaw, Mich. — The Saginaw Spirit face off against the London Knights for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals at the Dow Event Center on May 1st. Saginaw battled back in Game 3 on Monday night to draw the series to a 2-1 London lead.
Game Time:
Puck drop is at 7:05 PM
Broadcast:
Television: CHL TV, CHL App, OHL Action Pak Ch. 467
Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com
Head to Head:
In Game 1, Saginaw’s Rodwin Dionicio scored late in the first, giving the Spirit a lead that they would hold until the third. In the final period, London scored three straight, including two goals from Kasper Halttunen, to carry them to a 3-1 victory. Nolan Lalonde started for the Spirit, stopping 27 of 29, while Michael Simpson started for the Knights, stopping 30 of 31.
Game 2 finished the same way, a 3-1 London victory, but played out much differently. Ruslan Gazizov and Kasper Halttunen got the scoring started for the Knights in the first before Rodwin Dionicio scored his second of the series in the second period. In the third, the Knights held off the Spirit and added a Ruslan Gazizov empty netter, sealing the 3-1 game. Nolan Lalonde and Michael Simpson made starts for their teams, with Lalonde putting up 24 saves on 26 shots and Michael Simpson stopping 17 of 18.
Game 3 traveled to the Dow Event Center for the first time in the series, helping Saginaw to a 6-2 win. Hunter Haight got the Spirit on the board less than three minutes into the game, with London’s Rulan Gazizov and Landon Sim scoring before exiting the first, setting a 2-1 Knights lead. The second had Saginaw netting three straight goals, including Haight’s second of the game, taking a 4-2 lead. Finally, the third had the Spirit adding on two more tallies before the final buzzer sounded for the 6-2 win. Michael Simpson and Owen Willmore combined for 32 saves on 38 shots for London, while Nolan Lalonde stopped 18 of 20 from his blue paint.
Players to Watch:
Rodwin Dionicio leads the Spirit in points (13), netting five goals and eight assists. Dionicio is tied for first on the team in assists with Owen Beck, who currently sits at 11 points (3G, 8A). Calem Mangone and Hunter Haight co-lead the Spirit in goals with six each. Both players found the back of the net in Game 3. Jorian Donovan now sits first in the OHL Playoffs at +14 in postseason play, and goaltender Nolan Lalonde is coming off his first win of the series, putting up a 2.58 GAA, a .900 SV%, with four playoff wins.
Kasper Halttunen leads the Knights in points (14) and goals (9), including two in Game 1 of the current series. Denver Barkey’s ten assists lead the team and tie him for fifth in the postseason. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan continue to impress on special teams, with Julien notching four powerplay goals (first in the OHL Playoffs) and Cowan collecting seven powerplay assists (tied for first in the OHL Playoffs). Michael Simpson has started all nine games for the Knights, sporting a 2.47 GAA, a .909 SV%, ten wins, and one shutout.
