SAGINAW -- Last year, the Saginaw Spirit made it to game six of the OHL Western Conference semifinal, but lost to the Windsor Spitfires.

Saturday at the Dow Event Center, this year's Spirit squad had hoped to force a game seven with the London Knights.

London scored two goals in the first period, and it seemed the Knights would cruise to an easy game six victory.

But, the Spirit fought back in the second period. Josh Shalla scored to cut London's lead to one.

It was 3-1 London in the second frame when Saginaw's Eric Locke received a 4-minute penalty.

Short-handed, the Spirit's Michael Fine scored to get his team back within one goal, 3-2.

The two team's exchanged a goal a piece to go into the second intermission with London leading 4-3.

Saginaw thought they had a goal in the third period, but it hit the pipes behind Knights' goalie Michael Houser. London added one more in the third to win 5-3 and eliminate the Spirit from the post season.

London now moves on to the Western Conference final.