PLYMOUTH -- The Saginaw Spirit clinched the sixth place seed with their last game of the regular season Sunday afternoon, beating division rival the Plymouth Whalers 4-1 in arguably the biggest game of the season – an overtime or shootout loss would have moved Saginaw to seventh place and a regulation loss would have dropped the team to eighth place.

The win caps off Saginaw’s 2009-2010 regular season record at 34-27-4-3 with 75 points. The Spirit will take on the Kitchener Rangers in the opening round of the post season, with the Spirit hosting their first home game of the series on Saturday, March 20; see below for a full schedule.

Forwards Ivan Telegin and Josh Shalla each tallied three points for Saginaw, with Telegin scoring two goals and an assist and Shalla posting three assists. The first Spirit goal came at 8:54 in the first period from Telegin courtesy Shalla and defenseman Cody Sol (NHL Atlanta Thrashers). Center Vincent Trocheck moved the score to 2-0 Saginaw with an unassisted goal at 14:44 in the second, marking his fifteenth goal of the season. The Spirit continued to score unanswered, with Telegin pocketing his second of the night at the 18:00 mark of the second. Center Jordan Skellett and Shalla assisted on the goal. Skellett rounded out Spirit scoring with a goal at 13:59 in the third, courtesy assists from Shalla and Telegin. The Whalers were able to strike in the final :26 seconds of the third period, with center Tyler Seguin scoring on the power play from center A.J. Jenks and winger Robbie Czarnik.

Goalie Edward Pasquale stopped 34 of 35 shots for 119:34 scoreless minutes, with his efforts against the Whalers combined with his shutout over the Kitchener Rangers on March 13, 2010 setting a new team record. The previous record of 109:36 scoreless minutes was notched by Francois Thuot in the 2005-2006 season, when he backstopped the Spirit against the Plymouth Whalers in games taking place on January 26, 2006 and January 28, 2006. Whalers goalie Scott Wedgewood earned 16 saves on 20 shots in Sunday’s effort.

For a complete game sheet, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com.

The sixth place Saginaw Spirit will take on the second place Kitchener Rangers in the first round of the 2010 OHL playoffs. Tickets are on sale now for the first two scheduled home games of the playoffs, Saturday March 20 and Wednesday, March 24.

GAME ONE: Friday, March 19 - Saginaw at Kitchener; 7:30 PM GAME TWO: Saturday, March 20 - Kitchener at Saginaw; 7:11 PM GAME THREE: Monday, March 22 - Saginaw at Kitchener; 7:30 PM GAME FOUR: Wednesday, March 24 - Kitchener at Saginaw; 7:11 PM GAME FIVE: Friday, March 26 - Saginaw at Kitchener; 7:30 PM (If necessary) GAME SIX: Sunday, March 28 - Kitchener at Saginaw 4:00 PM (If necessary) GAME SEVEN: Tuesday, March 30 - Saginaw at Kitchener 7:30 PM (If necessary)

Get your tickets! For ticket information, please contact the Spirit at 989-497-7747 or visit the Official Saginaw Spirit Ticket and Merchandise Store at 5789 State Street in Saginaw.