Spirit extend win streak to five games with 4-1 victory over Windsor Spitfires

 

The Saginaw Spirit (20-10-2-2) kicked off the second half of the Ontario Hockey League season by extending its win streak to 5-games following a 4-1 victory over the Windsor Spitfires at the Dow Event Center Saturday night. 

 

Spirit head coach Chris Lazary was happy with the overall effort of his team.

 

“It was probably one of our most complete games all year,” Lazary said. “I think every single player in our lineup contributed in a positive way, it was a team effort and good game.”

 

Saginaw fell behind early when Windsor forward Luke Boka (11) beat Spirit goal tender Marshall Frappier to give the Spit's a 1-0 lead at 2:41 of the opening frame, but that would be Frappier's only blemish on the night, as he echoed Lazary's thought's on a great team effort after his 26-save performance Saturday night. 

 

“(Windsor) was in the same boat as us coming out of the break,” Frappier said of the importance of tonight's win. “So, in the first few minutes, we had to get our leg's under us, but I thought that was one of our better games as a team all year.”

 

The Spirit managed to tie the game a couple minutes after the Windsor goal when Saginaw defenseman DJ King (4) tied the game at 1-goal apiece with assists coming from Jake Goldowski and Mason Millman at 4:12 of the first period, before the Spirit pulled ahead later in the second frame when Millman (8) scored on a beauty, roofing a backhand shot over the left shoulder of Windsor goal tender Xavier Medina for a 2-1 Spirit lead at 9:20 of the second period. 

 

Lazary couldn't be happier with Frappier, who's been forced into the starters role as of late; and has played very well during that stretch.

 

“I think he's arguably one of the best goalies in the league right now with the way he's been playing,” Lazary said of Frappier. “He's technically sound and makes a lot of good saves, and I know him and Lenny (Tristan Lennox) have a really good relationship, they push each other. Frapp's is playing really good right now.”

 

Cole Perfetti (19) added a goal with assists from Damien Giroux and Cole Coskey to extend the lead to 3-1 at 3:46 of the third period, then gave up the puck to Giroux (22) on an empty net goal with Coskey adding an assist as well to round out the scoring (4-1) at 17:50 of the final frame. 

 

The Spirit will be back at it, hosting the Soo Greyhounds right back at the Dow Event Center at 7:05 pm Monday night.