Shalla closes in on franchise mark
PETERBOROUGH, ON -- The Saginaw Spirit beat the Peterborough Petes 6-1 Thursday night at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. John McFarland and Josh Shalla each tallied two goals in the win, with captain Jordan Szwarz contributing with three helpers. Goalie Tadeas Galansky remains undefeated in regulation this season, backstopping the Spirit with 35 saves. The Spirit lead the OHL Western Conference with 66 points and a 31-9-3-1 record.
The Spirit offense exploded with three goals in the first period, the first two coming off the stick of center John McFarland. McFarland tallied a goal from winger Jordan Szwarz and defenseman Dalton Young at the 8:13 mark then followed suit with his second of the night at the 13:43 mark from Szwarz and defenseman Ben Chiarot. Winger Josh Shalla would move the score to 3-0 with his thirty-fifth goal of the season at 17:46 in the frame from centers Justin Kea and Mathew Sisca.
The Petes would push in the second period to put a point on the scoreboard, with a power play goal from center Austin Watson reducing the deficit to 3-1. Defenseman Kalle Ekelund and winger Matt Puempel assisted on the goal. The Spirit would be quick to answer however, retaking the three goal lead later in the period. Center Ivan Telegin scored at the 15:12 mark from winger Anthony Camara and defenseman Dalton Prout to make it 4-1 Saginaw.
The Spirit would increase their lead late in the third period. Shalla would tally his second of the night with a power play marker at 16:37 in the period from Szwarz and defenseman Peter Hermenegildo. It was Szwarz’s third point of the night. Saginaw’s Chiarot would notch his ninth of the season at 17:26, a power play goal that was assisted by center Vincent Trocheck, to secure the Spirit’s 6-1 victory.
Spirit goalie Tadeas Galansky notched 35 saves on 36shots, while Petes netminder Andrew D’Agostini posting 24 saves on 30 shots.
