Saginaw trying to improve playoff position
SAGINAW -- The Saginaw Spirit posted a huge win Sunday afternoon, posting a 4-3 victory over conference rival the Guelph Storm.
Jordan Szwarz earned the games first star honors with two goals late in the third period, including what would become the game winning goal. Ryan O’Connor posted a goal and two assists to earn the game’s second star honors.
The Spirit continue to jockey for playoff positioning, with Sunday’s win over the Storm giving them a decisive edge over their perennial playoff rival. The Spirit enter Monday in seventh place in the OHL Western Conference with 68 points and a record of 31-25-4-2 (62 GP), while the eighth place Storm saw their record move to 29-29-3-1 (62 GP) with 62 points. The Owen Sound Attack also suffered a loss Sunday, staying steady at ninth place with 61 points and a record of 27-30-4-3 (64 GP). The top eight teams of the conference will make the 2010 OHL playoffs.
The Spirit were on the board first, scoring two consecutive goals in the opening frame. The first was a powerplay goal at 3:17 from winger Jordan Skellett, with assists from defenseman Peter Hermenegildo and center Michael Sgarbossa. Defenseman Ryan O’Connor moved the score to 2-0 with a power play goal at 14:13, courtesy assists from winger Josh Shalla and defenseman Jordan Hill. The Spirit would retain their two goal lead until the second period, when the Storm was reduced the deficit by one. Center Michael Latta at scored at 14:39, an unassisted goal that would cap off second period scoring with a score of 2-1 Saginaw.
The third period featured a four goal explosion, with both teams scoring two goals in the effort. Saginaw’s Jordan Szwarz scored two straight goals, marking his twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of the season. The first came at the 3:37 mark from center Vince Trocheck and O’Connor, and the second was a power play tally at the 5:51 mark from center Tyler Murovich and O’Connor. Szwarz’s goals moved the score to 4-1 Saginaw. Guelph mounted a comeback attempt late in the third period, starting with an unassisted goal from winger Taylor Beck at 10:18. Storm center Mathew Sisca reduced the deficit by a goal with his thirtieth of the season at 19:55, courtesy assists from center Peter Holland and Latta. Despite the late push from the Storm, the Spirit were able to clamp down and post the 4-3 victory.
Spirit goalie Edward Pasquale posted 35 saves on 38 shots, while Storm goalie Brandon Foote turned aside 23 of 27 shots.
