Saginaw doubles up Plymouth, 4-2
SAGINAW -- The Saginaw Spirit completed a Stanley Steemer Clean Sweep with two wins this weekend following a 4-2 win over division rival the Plymouth Whalers. Josh Shalla netted three points, one goal and two assists, and Mathew Sisca tallied two goals to help the Spirit seal the victory. Defenseman Ben Chiarot, recently arrived via trade, tallied his first Spirit goal in the effort as well. The Spirit lead the OHL Western Conference with 46 points and a record of 21-6-3-1.
The Spirit opened scoring in the first period, with newcomer Ben Chiarot notching his first goal in Spirit uniform, sixth of the season to move the score to 1-0. The power play goal came at 2:25 in the first from winger Josh Shalla and defenseman Peter Hermenegildo.
The Whalers would answer in the second period, with a goal from winger Robbie Czarnik at 5:06 in the frame evening up the score at one apiece. Wingers Garrett Meurs and Stefan Noesen assisted on the goal. The Spirit responded quickly however, notching two power play goals in a row for the 3-1 advantage. Shalla tallied his team high 27th goal of the season at 7:57 from center Vincent Trocheck, and center Mathew Sisca followed suite with a goal from Trocheck and defenseman Ryan O’Connor.
The two teams swapped goals in the third period. Whalers captain Beau Schmitz tallied a power play marker at 17:33 from center Mitchell Heard and winger James Livingston to reduce the deficit to 3-2, but Sisca would score his second of the night less than a minute later at 18:11 to seal the Spirit victory. Shalla earned the lone assist on the insurance goal.
Spirit goalie Mavric Parks netted 30 saves on 32 shots while Whalers netminder Scott Wedgewood tallied 19 saves on 23 shots.
