Shurygin stops 34 to secure Spirit shootout win in Windsor
Photo: Windsor Spitfires
Windsor, Ont. – The Saginaw Spirit defeated the Windsor Spitfires 3-2 in a shootout on Monday at the WFCU Centre. Dima Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn extended their point streaks to eight games, and Jacob Cloutier scored unassisted to send the game to OT. Zhilkin’s deciding shootout goal handed Saginaw their first shootout win this season. Stepan Shurygin made 34 saves on 36 shots and was unbeaten in the shootout.
Saginaw opened the scoring to make it 1-0 at 6:00. Ryan Hanrahan bounced the puck off the right wall, which was collected by Braidy Wassilyn. The OHL’s top scorer passed from the right wing to the left circle where Dima Zhilkin snapped the puck over the glove of goaltender Michael Newlove.
After 1: SAG 1 – 0 WSR (Total shots: 8 – 8)
Windsor captain Ethan Garden evened the game at the end of the second period. Jonathan Brown passed from the right wing to Caden Harvey, who jammed a shot off the pads of Stepan Shurygin. The puck rebounded straight to Garden, who scored to even the game at 1-1.
After 2: SAG 1 – 1 WSR (2nd period shots: 8 – 17, Total shots: 16 – 25)
Windsor led the score 2-1 at 5:43. Caden Harvey passed through traffic on the left to Beksultan Makysh at the top of the right circle. The left-handed forward took a wrist shot into the short side to give Windsor the lead.
Jacob Cloutier tied the game for the Spirit just after the halfway point of the third. The Saginaw alternate captain carried the puck out from behind the net before flipping a backhand shot past the hands of Michael Newlove to make it 2-2.
After 3: SAG 2 – 2 WSR (3rd period shots: 8 – 9, Total shots: 24 – 34)
A goalless overtime sent the game into a shootout. Dima Zhilkin scored the only goal of the shootout to give Saginaw the win. Stepan Shurygin saved all three attempts he saw.
Final: SAG 3 – 2 WSR (Overtime period shots: 1 – 2, Total shots: 25 – 36)
Powerplays: SAG 0/0 WSR 0/1
Goaltenders: SAG: Stepan Shurygin (34 saves, 36 shots, W) WSR: Michael Newlove (23 saves, 25 shots, SOL)
Saginaw’s next game will be against the Sarnia Sting on Friday, October 16th, at Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Puck drop is at 7:05pm.
