SAGINAW -- The Saginaw Spirit opened their two game weekend series with a 4-1 win over the Eastern Conference’s Kingston Frontenacs. 

The Spirit outshot the Frontenacs 47-33, but it was their special teams that accounted for all of Saginaw’s scoring in the effort with two shorthanded tallies and two power play markers.  The Spirit lead the OHL Western Conference with 44 points and a record of 20-6-3-1.

Spirit winger Josh Shalla tapped in a shorthanded tally at 4:16 in the second to open the game’s scoring.  His team high twenty-sixth goal of the season was assisted by winger Jordan Szwarz and defenseman Ryan O’Connor.  Spirit center Mathew Sisca notched a power play goal at 11:56 to give the team a two goal advantage, courtesy assists from O’Connor and center John McFarland. The assist marked McFarland’s first point in Spirit uniform following Thursday’s trade with the Sudbury Wolves.

The Frontenancs would battle back to make it a one goal game early in the third period.  Winger Sean Jones broke through at 4:35 for his fourteenth of the season with winger Conor Stokes earning the assist.  The Spirit fired back with two consecutive goals later in the frame, with Vince Trocheck  scoring the first, a shorthanded goal, at 7:45 from winger Brandon Saad.  Szwarz capped off the nights scoring with a power play goal at 18:40, with the lone assist going to winger Anthony Camara.

Spirit goalie Mavric Parks netted 32 saves on 33 shots while Frontenacs netminder Philipp Grubauer tallied 43 saves on 47 shots.