Spirit can’t solve Greyhounds in Game 4, series draws even
Photo: Max Robert
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. — The Saginaw Spirit fall to the Soo Greyhounds in Game 4 of their second round playoff series, 4-0 at the GFL Memorial Gardens. This win by the Soo ties the series up at two games apiece headed to Game 5. Bryce McConnell Barker collected a three-point night (2G, 1A), Jordan D’Intino netted his seventh of the postseason, and Gavin Hayes added two assists. Charlie Schenkel started for the Greyhounds, stopping all 27 shots by the Spirit, while Nolan Lalonde began for the Spirit, stopping 25 of 28.
The first tally of Game 4 occurred following a high sticking penalty by Saginaw’s Hunter Haight. After moving the puck around, Arttu Karki crossed near the high slot with Gavin Hayes and left the puck for the former Flint Firebird. Hayes sent a shot to the net that was knocked down by McConnell-Barker and jammed home for the game’s opening goal.
AFTER 1: SAG 0 – 1 SOO (Total Shots: 12 – 10)
Bryce McConnell-Barker struck again, this time about halfway through the second. After the Soo retrieved the puck behind their net, Gavin Hayes received a pass near the side boards and looked for a teammate up ice. Hayes then sent a pass through the neutral zone, finding Jacob Frasca. His backhanded shot attempted glanced off the side of the cage and ended up in the center slot, where McConnell-Barker scored his second of the game, setting a 2-0 lead.
AFTER 2: SAG 0 – 2 SOO (2nd period shots: 8 – 11, Total Shots: 20 – 21)
Following a match penalty by Saginaw’s captain Braden Haché for a slew foot, the Greyhounds would be set up on their third powerplay of the night. Brady Martin held the puck in the zone and began skating across the middle of the ice. Martin quickly passed over to Jordan D’Intino, who was in the right circle. D’Intino one-timed the pass from Martin to beat Lalonde and set a 3-0 Greyhounds lead.
Marco Mignosa added an empty net goal with assists to D’Intino and McConnell-Barker at 17:13 to seal the game.
FINAL: SAG 0 – 4 SOO (3rd period shots: 7 – 7, Total Shots: 27 – 28)
Powerplay: SAG 0/4 – 2/6 SOO
Game 5 will take place at the Dow Event Center on Friday, April 19th at 7:05 PM.