Saginaw breezes to 5-2 victory; lead series 2-1
SAGINAW -- The Saginaw Spirit seized a 2-1 playoff series lead over the Windsor Spitfires with a 5-2 win Tuesday night at The Dow Event Center of Saginaw. Garret Ross notched two goals in the effort to earn first star honors, while Ivan Telegin posted second star honors with one goal and two assists and goalie Mavric Parks earned third star honors after backstopping the team to the tune of 29 saves on 31 shots.The Spirit opened up the game with winger Garret Ross scoring the first goal of the night from winger Jordan Szwarz and defenseman Ryan O’Connor at the 3:34 mark; it was the first time of the 2011 post season that the Spirit opened scoring in the game. Spirit winger Josh Shalla made it 2-0 with his team leading seventh goal of the playoffs, scoring at 9:04 in the second from centers Ivan Telegin and Mathew Sisca, then with seconds remaining in the first period the Spirit took it to 3-0 for end the period leading the Spitfires. Ross scored his second of the night at 19:16 from Szwarz and O’Connor.
The Spirit jumped out to a four goal advantage in the second period courtesy a goal from center Vincent Trocheck at the 9:05 mark from Telegin and winger Brandon Saad. Windsor would battle back at 14:09 with winger Zack Kassian scoring a break-a-way unassisted goal to make it 4-1.
Both teams traded goals in the third period. The Spitfires opened up the period with an unassisted goal at the 11:52 mark from center Alexander Khokhlachev to make it 4-2, then Telegin secured the Spirit win with a powerplay goal courtesy Szwarz and O’Connor at the 13:39 mark. The Spirit took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series with the 5-2 win.
Spirit goalie Mavric Parks would notch 29 saves on 31 shots, while the Spitfires netminder Jack Campbell posted 24 saves on 29 shots.
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