Spirit Notch Fifth Straight Win with 3-2 Victory
The Saginaw Spirit paid a visit to West Division rivals the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Friday night, coming away from the contest with two more points in the standings and mounting their fifth win in a row following a 3-2 regulation decision. Goalie Tadeas Galansky posted 20 saves and earned the game’s second star honors with his sixth win of the season. Micky Sartoretto tallied a goal and an assist, and blueliners Dalton Prout and Ben Chiarot rounded out the Spirit scoring. The Saginaw Spirit lead the OHL Western Conference with 62 points and a record of 29-8-3-1.
The Spirit tallied the lone goal of the first period, courtesy a special teams effort that saw the penalty kill squad score their league leading 15th short handed goal of the season. Winger Jordan Szwarz fed the puck to winger Micky Sartoretto, who tallied his second goal of the season at 18:34 to put the Spirit up 1-0.
The Greyhounds would bounce back early in the second frame, with winger Vern Cooper scoring at 6:49 from winger David Quesnele and defenseman Colin Miller to make it 1-1. Two Spirit goals would put the Spirit ahead, the first coming from defenseman Dalton Prout at 10:32 from center Terry Trafford and Sartoretto. It was Prout’s first goal in Spirit uniform since arriving via trade last week, his eighth of the season. Spirit blueliner Ben Chiarot would score moments later at 11:46 to move the score to 3-1 Saginaw, his eighth goal of the season assisted by centers Mathew Sisca and Ivan Telegin. Cooper would again respond for the Greyhounds, scoring a power play marker at 17:22 in the second to reduce the deficit and move the score to 3-1. Center Nick Cousins and defenseman Ryan Sproul assisted on the goal.
Spirit netminder Tadeas Galansky posted 20 saves on 22 shots, while Greyhounds goalie Chris Perugini notched 18 saves on 21 shots.
For a complete game sheet, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com
Get your tickets! The world famous ZOOPERSTARS! will be at the Spirit’s next home game, Saturday January 15 against the Kitchener Rangers courtesy SPI Innovations, Maier and Associates Financial Group and Arizona Heating and Cooling. The puck drops at 7:11 PM. For ticket information, please contact the Saginaw Spirit at 989-497-7747 or visit the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store at 5789 State Street in Saginaw. Tickets can also be purchased at SaginawSpirit.com or any TicketMaster Outlet.
