Shalla notches fourth goal of the playoffs in 4-3 win
GUELPH, ON -- The Saginaw Spirit earned a huge win Thursday night with a 4-3 regulation victory over the Guelph Storm to tie up the playoff series between the two rivals at two games apiece.
Jordan Szwarz earned the game’s first star honors with a shorthanded goal in the second period that lead to a Spirit attack featuring four goals in the frame, two of which game on the power play. He also tallied an assist in the effort.
The Spirit host the Storm for game five of the best-of-seven series Saturday at The Dow Event Center.
The Storm controlled the scoring in the first period with two consecutive goals. Center Francis Menard scored from wingers Zack Mitchell and Daniel Erlich at the 2:22 mark, then moments later defenseman Kyle Pereira make it 2-0 from Mitchell and defenseman Matt Finn at the 4:52 mark.
The Spirit fired back in the second frame, with captain Jordan Szwarz breaking through for a shorthanded goal at 3:39 in the period to make it 2-1, courtesy an assist from defenseman Ryan O’Connor. The Spirit would continue to pressure the Storm, which paid off at 5:31 in the second when defenseman Brad Walch scored off the circle from winger Ivan Telegin and Szwarz to make it 2-2.
Guelph would take a costly 5:00 minute major penalty late in the second period and the Spirit capitalized on it with two straight goals to the take the lead. Center John McFarland tallied a power play marker at 16:28 from defenseman Ben Chiarot and winger Brandon Saad, then winger Josh Shalla made it 4-2 at the 16:51 mark with a power play goal assisted by O’Connor.
The Storm would manage to make it a one goal game with a power play goal at the 9:30 mark of the third period - Menard scored a power play goal from defenseman Andrey Pedan and center Peter Holland for the final goal of the game. The Spirit secured the 4-3 victory in regulation to even up the playoff series between the two teams.
Spirit goalie Mavric Parks posted 30 saves on 33 shots, while Storm goalie Brandon Foote posted 26 saves on 30 shots.
Visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com for a complete game sheet.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SERIES ‘B’ – SAGINAW SPIRIT (2) vs. GUELPH STORM (7):
GAME ONE: GUELPH 2 at SAGINAW 3 Final
GAME TWO: SAGINAW 2 at GUELPH 6 Final
GAME THREE: GUELPH 7 at SAGINAW 3 Final
GAME FOUR: SAGINAW 4 at GUELPH 3 Final
GAME FIVE: Saturday, April 2 at Saginaw; 7:11 PM
GAME SIX: Sunday, April 3 at Guelph; 7:00 PM
GAME SEVEN: Tuesday, April 5 at Saginaw; 7:11 PM (If Necessary)
