Sunday Highlights: Perfetti’s 30th caps action-packed weekend

 

SAGINAW 5, OSHAWA 4 – OT
The Oshawa Generals pulled off a valiant comeback, overcoming a 4-1 deficit with a pair of goals inside the final two minutes of regulation. The Saginaw Spirit would come away unscathed though, ending Oshawa’s eight game winning streak as rookie sensation and Oshawa-area product Cole Perfetti (30) netted the game winner 29 seconds into overtime in a 5-4 thriller. A day after becoming Saginaw’s all-time rookie scoring leader, Perfetti stepped up with the overtime game winner to help the Spirit remain within two points of the Soo Greyhounds atop the West Division. Damien Giroux (25), Camaryn Baber (6), Bode Wilde (17) and Reilly Webb (1) scored other goals for Saginaw while Ivan Prosvetov made 40 saves to earn his 32nd win of the season. Cole Resnick (5), Anthony Salinitri (41), Danil Antropov (14) and Allan McShane (28) all scored for the Generals while Nicolas Mattinen had a pair of helpers. Saginaw improves to 39-15-2-3 while Oshawa earns a point to sit at 38-18-3-0 for third in the Eastern Conference.
GAME CENTRE

 

SAULT STE. MARIE 5, SARNIA 4
The Soo Greyhounds held on for a 5-4 road win over the Sarnia Sting, overcoming a late comeback attempt as OHL scoring leader Morgan Frost (37) led the way with a goal and two assists. The Hounds were outshot 36-28 but had other goals from Jaromir Pytlik (8), Mac Hollowell (23), Keeghan Howdeshell (40) and Tye Kartye (3) while Matthew Villalta made 32 saves. Ryan McGregor (23), Jacob Perreault (28), Mitch Eliot (16) and Franco Sproviero (21) scored Sarnia goals while Hugo Leufvenius picked up a pair of assists. The chippy affair featured a combined 16 power plays as the Sting went 3-for-9 to Sault Ste. Marie’s 2-for-7 afternoon on the man advantage. The Hounds improve to 39-13-6-1 atop the West Division while Sarnia falls to 25-29-5-2 for seventh in the Western Conference. The Greyhounds have won four of time against Sarnia this season.
GAME CENTRE

 

SUDBURY 6, HAMILTON 2
Darian Pilon (15, 16) was a pest in the goalmouth, scoring twice as the Sudbury Wolves skated to a 6-2 win in Hamilton. Quinton Byfield (26), Nolan Hutcheson (22), Adam Ruzicka (25) and Emmett Serensits (3) also found the back of the net for the Wolves as they earned at least a point in a fifth straight game and took five of a possible six points on the weekend. Shane Bulitka had three assists while Cole Candella picked up two as the Wolves outshot the Bulldogs 36-25. Liam Van Loon (8) and Isaac Nurse (14) scored Hamilton goals as the Dogs suffered their third straight loss. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves for his league-leading 33rd victory, helping Sudbury within a point of third place Oshawa in the Eastern Conference. Hamilton holds down sixth in the conference with a 27-29-3-2 record.
GAME CENTRE

 

PETERBOROUGH 4, KINGSTON 1
Detroit Red Wings prospect Zach Gallant (9, 10) scored a pair of goals as the Peterborough Petes defeated visiting Kingston 4-1. Chris Paquette (25) and Brady Hinz (16) also tallied while Michael Little picked up a pair of assists. The Petes outshot the Frontenacs 38-31 and went 2-for-8 on the power play. 2019 NHL Draft prospect Hunter Jones stopped 30 of 31, surrendering Kingston’s lone goal off the stick of rookie Zayde Wisdom (3). Peterborough rounds out the weekend tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 27-29-1-2 record. Kingston falls to 13-45-1-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

KITCHENER 5, MISSISSAUGA 2
Joseph Garreffa (23, 24) potted a pair and added an assist as the Kitchener Rangers got past the visiting Mississauga Steelheads 5-2. Rickard Hugg (29), Jonathan Yantsis (41) and Greg Meireles (31) also scored for the Blueshirts while Dallas Stars prospect Riley Damiani contributed a pair of assists. Luke Richardson made 28 saves in the win as Mississauga goals came from Richard Whittaker (8) and Nick Isaacson (12). Kitchener earns consecutive home wins, improving to 29-26-3-1 for fifth in the Western Conference. Mississauga falls to 29-23-5-2 for fifth in the Eastern Conference.
GAME CENTRE

 

LONDON 8, NORTH BAY 1
Justin Brazeau (51) set a new North Bay Battalion single season goal scoring record, but it was all London Knights otherwise as Kevin Hancock (48) had four points in an 8-1 home ice win. London scored eight times on 51 shots as Antonio Stranges (12), Evan Bouchard (10), Alex Formenton (11), Josh Nelson (17), Liam Foudy (32), Connor McMichael (35) and Billy Moskal (13) all found the back of the net. Hancock had a goal and three assists, continuing a six-game point streak while bringing his season total to 98 points. Joseph Raaymakers made 22 saves for the London win as the Knights maintained their four point cushion on the Western Conference lead wit ha 41-11-6-1 record. North Bay falls to 26-28-3-2, tied for seventh with Peterborough in the Eastern Conference.
GAME CENTRE

 

NIAGARA 9, OWEN SOUND 0
Vegas Golden Knights prospect Ben Jones (35, 36) tied a career high with five points, leading the charge in a 9-0 Niagara IceDogs road win in Owen Sound. Boston Bruins prospect Jack Studnicka (28, 29) scored twice while other Niagara goals came from Kirill Maksimov (35), Matt Brassard (11), Akil Thomas (31), Matthew Philip (11) and Drew Hunter (4). Maksimov and Brassard each finished the afternoon with a goal and two helpers while Jason Robertson stretched his current point streak to 18 games with two assists. The Dogs scored nine times on 42 shots, going 2-for-4 on the power play in their fourth straight win. One day after becoming the winningest goaltender in franchise history, Stephen Dhillon set a new Niagara IceDogs record for wins in a season with his 31st. Dhillon turned aside 21 shots to record his second straight shutout, pulling into a tie for the league lead with five on the campaign. Niagara improves to 37-15-7-0, two points up on Sudbury for first in the Central Division. Owen Sound falls to 27-26-4-2 following a fifth straight loss.
GAME CENTRE