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Spirit secure playoff berth with blowout of Sarnia
Posted: 02.19.2011 at 10:30 PM
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Saginaw wins fourth straight game, 6-2
The Saginaw Spirit beat the Sarnia Sting 6-2 Saturday night at The Dow Event Center of Saginaw, mathematically clinching a berth in the 2011 OHL playoffs. Spirit rookie netminder Jake Paterson earned the first star honors with 25 saves on 27 shots, while John McFarland and Mathew Sisca each contributed a goal and an assist in the effort. The Spirit lead the OHL West Division with 76 points and a record of 36-16-3-1.
SAGINAW --
The second period saw a plethora of scoring after a scoreless first period. The Spirit jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the period, the first goal coming from center Mathew Sisca at 8:28 from defenseman Peter Hermenegildo and center John McFarland. Winger Josh Shalla would move the score to 2-0 Saginaw with a goal at 10:44 from wingers Garret Ross and Jordan Szwarz, then at 14:56 McFarland would make it 3-0 with a goal from Szwarz and defenseman Dalton Prout. Sarnia would sting back in the final minutes of the second to make it 3-1. Center Alex Galchenyuk scored at the 17:12 mark from winger Kale Kerbashian and winger Brett Ritchie.
The third period would open with winger Anthony Camara giving the Spirit the 4-1 lead with a power play goal at the 1:08 mark from center Vincent Trocheck and Hermenegildo. Sarnia would again reduce the deficit, this time with winger Brandon Francisco scoring at 3:06 from winger Craig Hottot and winger Tyler Peters. The Spirit answered with two more goals to secure the win, the first coming on the power play at 10:44 from defenseman Ryan O’Connor. Sisca and center Ivan Telegin assisted on the goal. Center Justin would round out scoring at 18:36 with an unassisted goal to make it 6-2.
Spirit rookie netminder Jake Paterson tallied 25 saves on 27 shots, while Sting goalie Brandon Hope notched 25 saves on 31 shots.