Lennox Shines as Spirit Down Spits to Move into First Place
October 20, 2022 – Ontario Hockey League (OHL) – Saginaw Spirit News Release
Saginaw Spirit’s Tristan Lennox in action
(Saginaw Spirit)
Windsor, Ont. – The Saginaw Spirit (5-2-1-0) won their first OT game this season Thursday night by a 3-2 score against the Windsor Spitfires (4-0-3-0) in front of 3,462 fans at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.
Saginaw netminder Tristan Lennox made a season-high 33 stops in goal.
This is the second time in two games that Saginaw has taken a game to overtime. They are 1-1 on the year in OT play after losing 4-3 to the Erie Otters on October 15.
The game started out with Windsor controlling the game for the first two minutes of play but flipped as Saginaw controlled the next two minutes after.
Tristan Lennox was able to keep the game scoreless after making several saves on a two-minute Spitfire possession six minutes into the first period.
Both teams evened out their pressure and were unable to get a goal past the goaltenders halfway through the first. Windsor led shots, nine to three.
As the period progressed, both teams’ defenses shined as shots were stagnant for several minutes after the halfway point.
Saginaw took a too many men penalty at in the first period. Lennox made several saves to help kill off penalty.
With two minutes left in the first frame, Lennox kept his team scoreless with some quick saves. Multiple Spitfires took shots from multiple angles but were unable to pot any goals.
The first period ended scoreless, but with Windsor leading shots, 14-4.
The second period opened much like the first, except Saginaw struck with their first of the contest at 1:36 of the second frame. 2022 first overall selection Michael Misa scored his fourth goal on the year on the left side after he was fed the puck by Joey Willis. Calem Mangone passed to Willis from the right side to set up the play and also earned an assist.
Both teams committed matching unsportsmanlike conduct at 5:02 in the middle frame, giving each team one less player. Neither team scored on the four-on-four situation.
Saginaw got into penalty trouble halfway through the second period when Zayne Parekh took a hooking penalty at 6:51 and Dean Loukus took a slashing penalty at 8:33 before the prior penalty was expired. Fortunately for the Spirit, Windsor unable to convert on the opportunities.
Midway through the second period, Saginaw led the game 1-0, but were being outshot 23-6.
Windsor tied the game at 13:49 in the middle frame. Ryan Abraham scored on a wrist shot after Daniil Sobolev recovered the puck and passed from the left side of the zone.
The Spitfires take the lead at 16:26 in the second period. Nicholas DeAngelis passed to Ryan Abraham who gave the puck to AJ Spellacy for his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) goal.
Spirit tied it up shortly after at 16:48 in the second period. Pavel Mintyukov was gifted a chance by Josh Bloom to skate behind the net and shoot. The puck hit a Windsor skater but was collected and shot by Dean Loukus for the goal.
The third period opened with Windsor on a powerplay. Josh Bloomtook a roughing penalty after the second period ended, but the Spitfires were unable to convert the chance.
Lennox made diving save as a Spitfire ended up on top of him with three minutes gone in the final frame.
The Spirit kept the pressure after they had a two-minute possession six minutes into the third period.
Halfway through the third period, both teams were still tied at two apiece. Windsor led shots 35-15.
With five minutes remaining, the Spirit began to put on some pressure as they had several long zone possessions, but no goals potted.
Tristan Lennox played the entire game for the Spirit, making 33 saves on 35 shots. Mathias Onuska manned the crease for Windsor, making 14 saves on 17 shots.
With time running out, Windsor turned up the heat with a two-minute possession but no goals. The Spirit entered their second overtime in two games tied at two.
In overtime, Saginaw won the game just 22 seconds in on a breakaway chance. Mitchell Smith stole the puck from a Spitfire skater and raced down the ice where he potted the game winner and his first of the season. After the OT win, Saginaw improves to 5-2-1-0 on the year.
The Spirit’s next game is at the London Knights Friday, October 21, at the Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
Saginaw returns home Saturday, October 22, as they host The London Knights at The Dow Event Center in Riverfront Saginaw, Michigan. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. and Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, the Saginaw Spirit Store (6321 State Street), Dow Event Center Box Office, and by phone at (989) 497-7747.
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