Saturday Highlights: Propp provides stops as Troops draw even

 

NORTH BAY 5, NIAGARA 2
Series tied 1-1

After a 50-save performance in Game 1, Christian Propp following things up with 43 more as the North Bay Battalion drew even with a 5-2 road win over the Niagara IceDogs. Mitchell Russell (1) broke up a 2-2 tie midway through the second period before Mason Primeau (1) and Brad Chenier (1) tacked on singles as the Troops claimed victory despite being outshot 45-27. Daniel Walker (1) and Justin Brazeau (1) also scored while Primeau finished the night with a goal and two helpers. Akil Thomas (1) and Ben Jones (1) helped the IceDogs come back from an early 2-0 deficit but Niagara wasn’t able to ultimately cash-in on Saturday. The series heads to North Bay tied at one, with Game 3 of the series set for Tuesday night.
GAME CENTRE

 

SUDBURY 3, MISSISSAUGA 2 – OT
SBY leads series 2-0

David Levin (1, 2) banged in his own rebound, stepping up as the overtime hero in his second game back from injury as the Sudbury Wolves edged visiting Mississauga 3-2 in Game 2 of their first round series. Adam Ruzicka and Peter Stratis each collected their second assists of the night on Levin’s second goal as the Wolves got a 39-save effort from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to take a 2-0 series lead. Quinton Byfield (1) also scored for Sudbury as the Wolves won despite being outshot 41-29. James Hardie (1) and Alan Lyszczarczyk (2) scored Mississauga goals while Jacob Ingham made 26 saves. The Wolves were without forward Owen Robinson who served the first of a three-game suspension. Scrappy winger Drake Pilon returns from suspension on Sunday as the two clubs play their third game in as many nights, clashing in Game 3 that goes in Mississauga at 7:00pm.
GAME CENTRE

 

SAGINAW 5, SARNIA 1
SAG leads series 2-0

The Saginaw Spirit got off to a better start in Game 2, climbing ahead of the Sarnia Sting 2-0 early to skate to an eventual 5-1 win on home ice. Spirit captain Damien Giroux (1, 2) scored a pair of goals while Cole Perfetti (2), Owen Tippett (3) and Bode Wilde (2) also found the back of the net. Tippett finished with a goal and two helpers, giving him a league-leading six points in two playoff contests. Jacob Perreault (1) provided the lone Sarnia goal as the Sting were outshot 49-38 in a chippy game that featured a combined 13 power play opportunities. Saginaw went 3-for-8 on the man advantage while Sarnia was held to 0-for-5. Ivan Prosvetov stopped 37 of 38 for the Spirit while Sarnia’s Ethan Lanvegin made 44 saves in defeat. The Spirit take a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 in Sarnia on Tuesday night.
GAME CENTRE

 

SAULT STE. MARIE 6, OWEN SOUND 3
Series tied 1-1

The Owen Sound Attack made a game of things, pulling to within a goal before the Soo Greyhounds drained a pair of empty netters in a 6-3 win on home ice to even the series at one. The Hounds came out hot as Tye Kartye (1), Alex Johnston (1) and Keeghan Howdeshell (2) spotted them a 3-0 lead 13 minutes into action. Sergey Popov (1) and Barrett Hayton (1) swapped goals before the first expired as the Hounds led 4-1 after 20 minutes. The Attack put things together beyond the midway point of the second as Jackson Doherty (1) and Kaleb Pearson (2) scored less than a minute apart to make it a 4-3 game. Hayton (2) and Morgan Frost (1) hit the empty net inside the game’s final two minutes as the Hounds recovered from a Game 1 overtime loss. Sault Ste. Marie outshot Owen Sound 47-21 as Attack netminder Mack Guzda earned first star honours with 41 saves. Matthew Villalta made 18 saves in the Soo crease. The Greyhounds look to carry the momentum into Game 3 that goes Monday night in Owen Sound.
GAME CENTRE