The Saginaw Spirit performed twice in the course of the week of Nov. 18-24, taking over their in-state rival, the Flint Firebirds, and their Western Convention rival, the London Knights. A robust offensive exhibiting in each video games helped result in a weekend break up, whereas their energy play struggled to supply in every recreation.
Recreation Outcomes
Nov. 22 vs Flint Firebirds: 8-1 win
Nov. 23 vs London Knights: 6-5 loss
Parekh & Willis Lead the Method Offensively
After being named the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Participant of the Week for the week of Nov. 11-17, Joey Willis continued his scorching streak. Within the two video games over the weekend, the Nashville Predators prospect tallied seven extra factors, with 4 objectives and three assists. With him main the best way towards the Firebirds on Nov. 22, the Spirit coasted to a victory.
However he was not the one Spirit participant who has continued their scorching play offensively. Calgary Flames 2024 first-round decide Zayne Parekh had a robust weekend offensively. The offensive defenseman made it look straightforward with the puck on his stick. As Spirit play-by-play commentator Dillon Clark referred to as him, “The puppet grasp” was in full pressure within the workforce’s two video games. With Parekh manning the blue line within the offensive zone, the Spirit took benefit of any likelihood the Firebirds or Knights gave them. Parekh additionally continued to indicate his willingness to get in deep on the offensive play, which helped result in a few objectives.
THE PUPPET MASTER IS HERE!🦅✨@NHLFlames 2024 first spherical #NHLDraft decide Zayne Parekh exhibits off his nifty strikes on the blue line and rips one to present @SpiritHockey a 4-0 lead!🚨#OHL | @CHLHockey | #Flames pic.twitter.com/SsYE2U3MFz
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 23, 2024
Within the two video games, the 2024 Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) Defenseman of the 12 months tallied two objectives, 4 assists, and 6 factors, extending his multi-point recreation streak to 5.
Energy Play Struggles
Even with scoring 14 objectives in two video games, the Spirit energy play couldn’t take full benefit of the ten complete alternatives that they had over the weekend. They tallied solely two objectives whereas on the person benefit. Towards the Knights, that they had two events the place that they had a five-minute energy play, arising empty on the primary one earlier than taking benefit twice on the second likelihood to assist battle again towards the top of the 6-5 loss.
The primary unit, which consists of Parekh, 2025 NHL Draft prospect Michael Misa, Kristian Epperson, Calem Mangone, and Willis, struggled to get themselves arrange within the zone at instances. This was very true towards the Knights, with the puck seemingly hopping off sticks and bouncing the mistaken manner for the Spirit.
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Despite the fact that the ability play is at 24.7% on the season (sixth-best within the OHL), there continues to be room for enchancment, particularly given its expertise.
Penalty Kill Continues to Be Robust
Whereas the ability play was not at its best over the 2 video games, the penalty kill once more got here up massive for the Spirit. In 9 instances being at a person drawback, they solely allowed one power-play objective. The robust play of goaltender Andrew Oke spearheaded the penalty kill. For probably the most half, the play in entrance of Oke was strong sufficient to restrict their opponent’s probabilities, however he additionally made a number of massive saves to maintain his workforce’s penalty kill wanting robust. The OHL’s sixth-best penalty kill unit withstood robust play from the Firebirds and Knights, enjoying sound sufficient to maintain the high-danger probabilities to a minimal. The lone objective that the unit gave up got here off the stick of Knights defenseman Sam Dickinson, who cashed in on a cross from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan. Due to the help, Cowan continues to get nearer to the OHL level streak report.
Different Notes
- Misa continued his scorching begin to the season, tallying 4 extra factors (all assists), pushing his season totals to 23 objectives, 23 assists, and 46 factors, which leads the OHL. He’ll head to the CHL USA Prospects Problem this week (Nov. 26 and 27).
- Epperson appeared snake-bitten with the puck on his stick, unable to money in on a handful of high-danger probabilities over the 2 video games.
- Dimian Zhilkin continues to get his offensive recreation going, scoring twice towards the Firebirds.
What’s on Faucet for the Spirit
The Spirit will likely be in motion thrice in the course of the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 1. They are going to hit the highway for a mid-week matchup towards Liam Greentree and the Windsor Spitfires on Nov. 27 earlier than returning house for a must-watch matchup between Misa and fellow 2025 NHL Draft prospect Porter Martone and the Brampton Steelheads on Nov. 30 earlier than a fast turnaround to Sarnia to tackle the Sting on Dec. 1.
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