Mintyukov, Codd power Spirit past Greyhounds in OT thriller
Saginaw, Mich. – The Saginaw Spirit (11-6-1-0) won their second OT game this weekend with a 4-3 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (5-5-4-2) at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.
Saturday’s OT winner follows a 4-3 victory in Sarnia that required an extra frame. T-Bone Codd scored the game-winner at 2:33 of overtime tonight against the Soo.
The Soo struck first at 3:45 in the first period. Mark Durante scored on a wraparound chance after Kirill Kudryavtsev shot at Andrew Oke from the left side of the zone. Tyler Savard started the play by passing to Kudryavtsev.
Matyas Sapovaliv took a cross checking penalty at 5:52 in the first frame, giving the Greyhounds their first powerplay. The Soo were unable to score despite a few shots.
The Soo got another man-advantage after Brayden Hislop was called for high sticking at 11:11 in the opening period. The Spirit killed off the disadvantage successfully.
Saginaw got a powerplay chance of their own and converted it into a goal at 13:47 in the first frame. Captain Josh Bloom got the puck at the top left corner of the zone and gave the puck to Dean Loukus. The forward passed to Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov who took a wrist shot and potted his ninth goal of the season.
The Spirit claimed the lead at 15:38 of the first period. Luke McNamara scored on a wrap-around try after Liam Storch passed to him from the left side of the offensive zone. The goal was McNamara’s second in as many nights.
The first period ended with Saginaw leading 2-1, and in shots, 16-11.
The second period opened with pressure and shots from the Spirit.
Saginaw got another man-advantage after Andrew Gibson was called for slashing at 11:38 in the middle period. The Greyhounds were able to stop Saginaw from scoring.
The Soo got a chance to go on the power play after Joey Willis took a clipping penalty at 16:27 in the second period. The Spirit successfully killed off the penalty despite facing several shots.
The Soo tied the game at 19:31 of the middle frame. Mark Durante got his second goal of the game after Tyler Savard set him up for the one-timer goal for both skater’s second point of the game.
The second period closed with both teams tied at two apiece and shots in favor of the Soo, 23-20.
The third period started with the Soo applying pressure and holding the puck for long periods.
The Soo took the lead at 12:10 in the period. Kalvyn Watson scored his seventh of the season after the puck lofted over the Saginaw blue line and into the zone. After a give-and-go with Marco Mignosa, Watson slid the puck past a sprawling Andrew Oke. Bryce McConnell-Barker grabbed his team-leading 18th point of the season.
Saginaw pulled their goalie with less than three minutes remaining and converted on the chance to tie the game with 15.7 seconds remaining. Pavel Mintyukov got his 10th goal of the season after he received the puck from Josh Bloom. Saginaw native Mitchell Smith started the play by passing to Bloom.
Neither team was able to score in the remaining time, and the game went to overtime for the second time in two games for the Spirit.
In overtime, both teams had several chances, but it was Saginaw who came out on top. After the Greyhounds rang a shot off the crossbar, T-Bone Codd scored the game winner in OT on a wrist shot from the right-wing circle.
Saginaw improves to 11-6-1-0 on the season after the win.
The Spirit’s next game is Sunday, November 13, against the Peterborough Petes at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. The Spirit welcome HSC for Robotics night, and the game will be followed by a skate with the players. Puck drop is at 5:30, and Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, the Saginaw Spirit Store (6321 State Street), Dow Event Center Box Office, and by phone at (989) 497-7747.
