Saturday Highlights: Heating up at the half

 

GUELPH 4, HAMILTON 3 – OT
Newly acquired forward Pavel Gogolev (10) was in on all four goals, scoring the overtime winner as the Guelph Storm defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3 on the road. Guelph’s fifth straight win saw Gogolev score and pick up three assists while Barret Kirwin (9), Nate Schnarr (20) and Alexey Toropchenko (9) also found the back of the net. Storm netminder Anthony Popovich stopped 33 of the 36 shots that came his way before Gogolev picked off a Hamilton turnover to beat Bulldogs rookie Zach Roy up high. Isaac Nurse (6), Zachary Jackson (1) and Liam Stevens (4) scored for the Dogs as they earned a single point in the overtime loss. Guelph improves to 19-9-3-4, winning back-to-back games over Hamilton as the Bulldogs fall to 15-18-3-0 following a fifth straight loss.
GAME CENTRE

 

SAGINAW 6, ERIE 4
The Saginaw Spirit and Erie Otters came out of the first period tied at two before the Spirit struck for three in the second to take control of things in a 6-4 victory on home ice. Brady Gilmour (7), Reagan O’Grady (3), Blade Jenkins (14), Damien Giroux (15), Nicholas Porco (15) and Danny Katic (4) all scored as the Spirit claimed their sixth win in the past seven games. Cole Coskey, Bode Wilde and Cole Perfetti each had two assists while Ivan Prosvetov made 31 saves for the win. Danial Singer (8), Kyle Maksimovich (20), Maxim Golod (8) and Kurtis Henry (5) scored for the Otters, with Maksimovich netting the 100th goal of his OHL career. The Spirit have won three straight at home, scoring at least six goals in each of those contests. Saginaw improves to 20-11-2-2, remaining within five points of first place Sault Ste. Marie in the West Division. Erie falls to 14-20-1-0.
GAME CENTRE

 

NORTH BAY 3, BARRIE 0
The North Bay Battalion limited the rival Barrie Colts to just 15 shots as Christian Propp earned the shutout in a 3-0 road win. Matthew Struthers (17), Brad Chenier (16) and Mitchell Russell (7) all scored second period goals for the Troops as they won their fifth straight game. Kai Edmonds took the loss for the Colts after a 29-save showing. North Bay improves to 16-18-1-1, two points back of third place Mississauga in the Central Division. Barrie suffers a fifth straight loss, falling to 15-19-1-0.
GAME CENTRE

 

PETERBOROUGH 3, MISSISSAUGA 2 – SO
Arizona Coyotes prospect Liam Kirk (12) tied the score with 2:42 left in the third period, forcing overtime and a shutout before the Peterborough Petes prevailed over the Mississauga Steelheads 3-2 on home ice. Cole Fraser (4) joined Kirk in the goal-scoring department before Nick Robertson scored the lone goal of the shootout and Hunter Jones stopped all three Steelheads he faced. Jones made 30 saves on the night for his 19th win of the season while Mississauga’s Jacob Ingham stopped 39 of 41. Alan Lysczarczyk (15, 16) scored both Mississauga goals as the Trout earned a point. Peterborough improves to 20-15-0-0 while Mississauga falls to 16-15-3-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

FLINT 5, WINDSOR 2
C.J. Clarke (5, 6) opened the scoring with a pair of goals, setting the pace for the Flint Firebirds who earned their fifth win of the season, defeating visiting Windsor 5-2. Ethan Keppen (10), Eric Uba (14) and Jake Durham (23) added goals while Fedor Gordeev and Ty Dellandrea each notched two assists and Evan Morrison made 21 saves for his first OHL win. Curtis Douglas (16) and Will Cuylle (12) scored for Windsor while Colton Incze made 31 saves in the loss. The Firebirds outshot the Spitfires 36-23 including a tally of 18-3 in the first period, improving to 5-30-2-0 on the season. Windsor falls to 15-18-2-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

SAULT STE. MARIE 5, SUDBURY 2
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mac Hollowell (12) led the way with a goal and an assist from the back end as the Soo Greyhounds defeated the northern rival Sudbury Wolves 5-2 on home ice. Jacob LeGuerrier (3), Brett Jacklin (2), Cole MacKay (13) and Jordan Sambrook (10) also got in on the scoring while Tye Kartye picked up two assists, helping the Greyhounds improve to 22-9-4-1. Matthew Villalta’s 80th career OHL win included 23 saves as Sudbury goals came from Darian Pilon (8) and Peter Stratis (5). The Hounds outshot the Wolves 36-25. Sudbury drops a third straight decision, falling to 21-11-1-1.
GAME CENTRE

 

KITCHENER 6, OWEN SOUND 2
The Kitchener Rangers charged out to a 5-0 first period lead, cruising past the Owen Sound Attack 6-2 on the road. Jonathan Yantsis (25, 26) earned first star honours with two goals and an assist while Ryan Stepien (2) pitched in with a goal and a helper. Isaac Langdon (3), Joseph Garreffa (11) and Greg Meireles (14) also scored for the Blueshirts as they outshot Owen Sound 37-27. Kevin Hancock (28) and Jackson Doherty (3) scored for the Bears who are off to a slow start since returning from the holiday break. Lucas Pfeil made 25 saves before a hometown crowd to earn the win for the Rangers as they improve to 15-17-3-0. Owen Sound falls to 19-13-1-2.
GAME CENTRE

 

NIAGARA 8, KINGSTON 0
Edmonton Oilers prospect Kirill Maksimov (21, 22, 23) had a natural hat-trick and four points, headlining an 8-0 Niagara IceDogs road win over the Kingston Frontenacs. Maksimov scored three times in a span of 8:22, just over a minute shy of the IceDogs’ all-time franchise record while Oliver Castleman (8, 9) scored twice, Ben Jones (17) had a goal and three helpers and Matthew Philip pitched in with three assists. Akil Thomas (12) also found the scoresheet while goaltender Stephen Dhillon notched his fifth career shutout with 30 saves on the night. Frontenacs newcomer Marshall Frappier made his Kingston debut in a relief appearance. The IceDogs outshot Kingston 36-30, going 3-for-6 on the power play to improve to 21-8-5-0 atop the Central Division. Kingston falls to 11-24-1-0.
GAME CENTRE