Friday Highlights: Record-breaking night for Spirit

 

SAGINAW 11, SARNIA 8
The Saginaw Spirit set a new single game club record, finding the back of the net 11 times in a high-scoring road win over the Sarnia Sting. The two clubs combined for 19 goals as the Sting netted eight of their own on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Sarnia. Leading Sting scorer Sean Josling (22) opened the game with the big teddy bear goal, and anticipated NHL Draft prospect Cole Perfetti (14) responded with one for the Spirit. A highlight reel shorty from Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jamieson Rees (14) came with a minute and a half left in the first, but Dalton Duhart (4) evened things up just 30 seconds later. Jacob Perreault (15, 16) and Brayden Guy (6) opened the second period with markers for Sarnia, putting the Sting up 4-2, but the Spirit would bury eight consecutive goals as Danny Katic (4), Damien Giroux (17, 18), Danil Antropov (8), Sebastian Bulovs (1), Cole Coskey (14) and Mitchell Smith (4) swayed the score in Saginaw’s favour. Sarnia fought hard to climb back with four more goals, including another from Perreault, but they’d ultimately fall short. The Sting’s loss keeps them at the bottom of the West Division at 12-15-0-0 while Saginaw sits tied with the Flint Firebirds for first in the West Division, sporting a record of 15-9-2-2.
GAME CENTRE

 

KINGSTON 7, PETERBOROUGH 2
Dawson Baker’s (8, 9, 10) first career OHL hat-trick led the Kingston Frontenacs to their seventh win in eight contests as they skated past the first place Peterborough Petes 7-2 on home ice. Baker gave the Fronts the lead just 43 seconds in and Nick Wong (8) put another one on the board almost seven minutes later. Winnipeg Jets pick Declan Chisholm (5) put one through for the Petes midway through the frame, and Zayde Wisdom (15) capped off the first 20 minutes with one more for the Fronts. Baker scored again just over a minute into the second, and Peterborough’s Max Grondin (7) was able to do the same minutes later. Rookie Shane Wright’s (13) point streak extended to eight games with goal number 13 on the year, and overager Nick King (4) finished off the second period with one of his own. Baker completed the hatty midway through the final period, sending his team home with the 7-2 road victory. Ryan Dugas stopped 38 of 40 shots and Peterborough’s Tye Austin put forth a 34-save performance. The Frontenacs continue their turnaround, improving to 8-15-2-2 while the Petes fall to 20-7-1-1, sitting tied with the Ottawa 67’s for first in the East Division.
GAME CENTRE

 

SUDBURY 8, FLINT 5
A five-point night from Quinton Byfield (21) led the Sudbury Wolves to an 8-5 win over visiting Flint. A five-goal first period that included two from David Levin (11, 12) and others from Blake Murray (15) and Owen Robinson (6) had the Wolves up 4-1. The Firebirds followed-up Owen Lalonde’s (2) first period marker with two more in the second as Ty Dellandrea (15) and Connor Roberts (10) converted while Sudbury rookie Landon McCallum (2) tallied to send the Wolves into the third frame up 5-3. The final twenty minutes saw an additional five goals, but the Wolves were able to maintain their lead throughout as Chase Stillman (9), Macauley Carson (7) and Byfield sealed the deal. Byfield’s five points (1-4-5) keeps him fourth in the OHL scoring race with 55 points (21-34-55), tied with Hamilton’s Arthur Kaliyev. Mitchell Weeks made 28 saves for his second consecutive win. The Wolves will hope the momentum from their three-game win streak carries over into Sunday’s match against the Barrie Colts, rounding out their four-game homestand. They continue to lead the Central Division at 17-11-1-0, while Flint’s record drops to 17-11-0-0.
GAME CENTRE

 

OTTAWA 4, GATINEAU 0
Cedrick Andree stopped all 32 shots that came his way as the Ottawa 67’s claimed the first of two matchups against the cross-river QMJHL rival Gatineau Olympiques in a 4-0 triumph. After a scoreless first period, overage defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer (11) got on the board at the 40-second marker of the second and was followed up by a pair of goals from overage winger Joseph Garreffa (15, 16). NHL Draft hopeful Jack Quinn (15) was Ottawa’s final scorer with less than a minute and a half ticking down on the clock. Andree registered his second shutout of the season as the CHL’s third-ranked Barber Poles earned their eighth straight win. Marco Rossi reached the 50-point milestone and, alongside Garreffa, extended his point streak to game number 10. The 67’s will host the Olympiques in the nation’s capital on Sunday afternoon in a game that will be televised nationally on Sportsnet.
GAME CENTRE

 

OWEN SOUND 6, LONDON 3
The Owen Sound Attack had a big night on the power play, doubling-up the host London Knights 6-3 on Sportsnet. Down 2-1 early in the second period, the Bears scored five consecutive goals to take a stranglehold on the game and bring a hush over a capacity Teddy Bear Toss crowd in London. Overage defenceman Brady Lyle (7, 8) earned first star honours with two goals while Matthew Struthers (13) had a goal and two assists in his second game since re-joining the Attack. Kaleb Pearson (8), Deni Goure (5) and Igor Chibrikov (3) also scored for Owen Sound while Carter Robertson had a pair of assists. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alec Regula (10) brought down the teddy bears 2:31 into the second period before Ben Roger (1) And Nathan Dunkley (5) added other London markers. Attack netminder Mack Guzda stopped 26 of 29 for the win as Owen Sound won its third straight, improving to 13-10-3-1. The Knights had won seven in a row but have now dropped consecutive decisions, falling to 17-7-1-1, two points back of first place Guelph in the Midwest Division.
GAME CENTRE

 

KITCHENER 6, OSHAWA 4
A back-and-forth game in Kitchener went the way of the host Rangers as they opened up a 3-0 lead, saw it evaporate but still persevered with a strong finish to the second period. New Jersey Devils prospect Michael Vukojevic finished the night with four assists, chipping in on a go-ahead goal from Riley Damiani (11) to break up a 3-3 tie midway through the second. Jonathan Yantsis (15, 16) scored twice, netting the game winner with 3:55 left in the second frame while Ryan Stepien (6), Reid Valade (9) and Greg Meireles (6) also found the scoresheet for the Blueshirts. Kyle MacLean (5, 6) scored twice for Oshawa while Nico Gross (7) and William Ennis (3) added singles. Lucas Pfeil turned aside 33 shots for the win as the Rangers were outshot 37-30. Kitchener earns a fifth consecutive win under interim coach Mike McKenzie to improve to 12-10-2-2. Oshawa has dropped four in a row, falling to 16-9-0-2.
GAME CENTRE

GUELPH 4, BARRIE 0
The Nico Daws show continued in Guelph on Friday as the Storm netminder stopped all 39 shots that came his way to record his league-leading fourth shutout of the campaign. Montreal Canadiens prospect Cam Hillis (9, 10) provided a pair of goals in the winning cause while Eric Uba (9) and Pavel Gogolev (15) also capitalized. Gogolev finished the night with a goal and two helpers as the Storm rolled to their eighth win in the past 10 games, improving to a Midwest Division-leading 17-5-1-3. Barrie’s Jet Greaves turned aside 32 shots in the loss as the Colts fell to 13-10-1-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

HAMILTON 6, MISSISSAUGA 4
The Hamilton Bulldogs overcame a 3-1 deficit to charge back in the latter half of regulation to defeat the Mississauga Steelheads 6-4 on the road.  Trout forward Ty Collins (6) opened the scoring with under four minutes to go in the first, before Bradey Johnson’s (3) third on the year brought Hamilton up to speed. Third-year Steelhead and St. Louis Blues pick Keean Washkurak (10) responded with one of his own and NHL Draft hopeful James Hardie (10) did the same shortly after. It didn’t take long for Jan Jenik (21, 22) to find the back of the net for his 55th point and first of two goals, extending his league-leading point streak to 26 games. Avery Hayes (9, 10) rounded out the second period with one more for the Dogs, tying the score 2-2. Jenik kickstarted the game’s final 20 minutes with a shorthanded goal, and less than a minute later, Dallas Stars prospect Thomas Harley (12) notched one for Mississauga on the power play. The game-winning goal would come on sophomore rearguard Michael Renwick’s (1) first of the season, and Hayes’ second goal would seal the deal for the Bulldogs. Hamilton outshot Mississauga 30-20 and improves to 13-14-2-0, while the Steelheads fall to 8-17-2-0 on the year.
GAME CENTRE

 

SOO 2, ERIE 1
The Greyhounds’ road trip continued on a positive note with a second straight win, this time in a 2-1 decision over the Erie Otters. Tye Kartye (12) got on the board four minutes into the first period, and Zack Trott (8) followed suit four minutes into the second. NHL Draft eligible Jamie Drysdale (6) got things going for the Otters late in the second, wrapping up the scoring for both clubs. Bailey Brkin finished the night with 28 saves for the Soo, while Daniel Murphy put a stop to 22 shots. The Hounds will hope to cap off their weekend trip with a third straight win as they travel to Mississauga on Sunday with a 12-15-2-0 record, skating past the Sarnia Sting and into fourth place in the West Division. The Otters remain in the middle of the Midwest at 11-9-2-6.
GAME CENTRE