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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 24, 2023 14:36:58 GMT -5
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Post by donjohnson on Mar 24, 2023 15:07:28 GMT -5
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 24, 2023 15:15:37 GMT -5
Ugh! Game 7 vs Guelph in the Western Conference Final. |
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 24, 2023 21:54:55 GMT -5
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Post by donjohnson on Mar 30, 2023 9:32:19 GMT -5
The playoff fun starts TONIGHT...with all the rest that everyone had over the last week, we should be healthy and ready to go tonight. No excuse not to take it to these guys, we don't like them, they don't like us...I'd love to see Giroux Jr. have to shake our hands after a lost series. Shutting down Lombardi will be key...I honestly think that Flint has a slight edge with Forwards and Defense but Lennox is better than Day and Cranley combined so it's really going to sit on his back. Derosiers has said all season on the radio, this team will go as far as Lennox will take us and that's for sure true in this series. If only we could get the game started the way Ryan Schnell did against London in the playoffs 13 years ago EDIT: Guess the video was too violent for embedding...I still remember how loud the Dow was for this fight  |
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 31, 2023 13:08:52 GMT -5
With Leigh Cunningham on the call.
Saginaw defeated Flint 7-1 in game 1 to jump out to a 1-0 series lead. Flint took an early 1-0 lead on a bad turnover between the red line and Saginaw blue line. After that it was all Saginaw. The turning point of the game was Flint missing a wide open net during their 4 minute power play with Zayne Parekh in the penalty box. Shortly after the near miss by Flint, Parekh scored on a break away after coming out of the penalty box. Instead of being tied 2-2, Saginaw took a 3-1 lead and never looked back. Tristan Lennox made a couple of big saves to keep Flint at bay. Even though Flint outshot Saginaw they only had a couple of quality scoring chances, one being the aforementioned miss of the wide open net on their 4 minute power play.
Game 2 is tonight at 7:05 pm. A smattering of single seats and standing room only are the only tickets left. The Wendler Arena should be rocking tonight.
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Post by donjohnson on Mar 31, 2023 13:28:07 GMT -5
I'm sure you all are on social media and the Red Room is not available tonight...wish they would open the theater or something to give people another place to go but the concession lines will be PACKED tonight so plan ahead!
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 31, 2023 15:09:21 GMT -5
I'm sure you all are on social media and the Red Room is not available tonight...wish they would open the theater or something to give people another place to go but the concession lines will be PACKED tonight so plan ahead! Parking will be at a premium too. With no Red Room doors into the arena are opening at 5:30 pm. |
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Post by donjohnson on Apr 4, 2023 9:52:36 GMT -5
Spirit almost had a miraculous comeback last night...two empty net goals in the last 4 minutes forced overtime and really played well until Lennox gave just a little too much room on a rebound and Flint poked it through. Lennox played REALLY well once again and it was awesome to see the team fight back on the road. The way I look at the series, we thumped them twice at home (despite their physical play) and then it took everything they had to beat us in OT at home. If the team stays confident, we will win this series although I wasn't happy to see Lombardi wake up...he's such a dangerous player and I'll be happy if he ends up in Grand Rapids next year and we don't have to see him anymore.
I didn't think Flint played as physical last night as they did in Saginaw...have to think they changed up their strategy a little after the first couple of games. That said, they still throw a cheap shot at every whistle...so many cross checks in front of the net...we just don't do that (I'm assuming because we don't have fighters).
Finally, Misa was an absolute stud last night...I never wanted him to leave the ice. I pinch myself sometimes to remember that he's the youngest player on the ice and he's having no problem competing with guys 3-4 years older.
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Post by eric8199 on Apr 4, 2023 10:24:44 GMT -5
Spirit almost had a miraculous comeback last night...two empty net goals in the last 4 minutes forced overtime and really played well until Lennox gave just a little too much room on a rebound and Flint poked it through. Lennox played REALLY well once again and it was awesome to see the team fight back on the road. The way I look at the series, we thumped them twice at home (despite their physical play) and then it took everything they had to beat us in OT at home. If the team stays confident, we will win this series although I wasn't happy to see Lombardi wake up...he's such a dangerous player and I'll be happy if he ends up in Grand Rapids next year and we don't have to see him anymore. I didn't think Flint played as physical last night as they did in Saginaw...have to think they changed up their strategy a little after the first couple of games. That said, they still throw a cheap shot at every whistle...so many cross checks in front of the net...we just don't do that (I'm assuming because we don't have fighters). Finally, Misa was an absolute stud last night...I never wanted him to leave the ice. I pinch myself sometimes to remember that he's the youngest player on the ice and he's having no problem competing with guys 3-4 years older. Can't disagree with anything you said here. I'm not sure I get why the refs continue to let the cheap shots go and then call weak penalties for minor contact at other points in the game. Consistency would be nice, but I guess it's the OHL and we'll never get that from the officials there. I will say Flint fans thought they were getting the raw deal last night (which I disagree with) but how do you call a closing your hand on the puck penalty in overtime of the playoffs? I was so confused over that call. Didn't see the last one that led to the gamewinner by Flint because I was on the other end, so I can't tell if that was a good call or not. Either way Flint decided to stop being goons and play hockey last night and ended up with the win, though Saginaw still dominated play most of the night. If Day wasn't on last night, we'd be up 3-0. That being said, if Tristan wasn't on all series, we'd be down 3-0. I was doubtful about our chances when this series began, but I'm pretty confident we pull this one off now. Personally I see us getting the win Wednesday and sealing it in front of another sellout crowd Friday, but Wednesday's game will be a HUGE one. If Flint gets another win it's a whole new series and they carry the momentum into the last three. If we could have gotten the win last night in OT though, it would have been like stepping on their throats — this series would be over. Can't give Flint too much life. They're a good team, and they'll make you pay for it. |
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Post by ricardo on Apr 4, 2023 15:05:16 GMT -5
There was a Flint fan sitting behind us that wanted a penalty called on every play. I knew there'd be some unconventional calls when I saw that Hutchison was one of the referees.
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Post by aj0512 on Apr 6, 2023 10:39:59 GMT -5
Here's hoping Saginaw can end it in Game 5. Obviously it's a fun rivalry, but it feels like the hatred has really exploded in the past week. Not sure I can handle up to three more games of it this year, lol.
Curious to see if anything further discipline comes from the Riley Piercey/Zayne Parekh incident in OT last night.
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Post by Bthumme on Apr 6, 2023 11:18:01 GMT -5
Here's hoping Saginaw can end it in Game 5. Obviously it's a fun rivalry, but it feels like the hatred has really exploded in the past week. Not sure I can handle up to three more games of it this year, lol. Curious to see if anything further discipline comes from the Riley Piercey/Zayne Parekh incident in OT last night. I think it will depend largely on what camera views they have available. From watching the broadcast last night we only saw a small clap. Now there’s a chance of course they didn’t want to broadcast anything discriminating, but if there’s no additional views available, I’m not sure there’s enough info, especially since Zayne was back about 2 minutes later. |
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Post by donjohnson on Apr 6, 2023 11:53:47 GMT -5
I don't think there will be any discipline unless something comes with an automatic suspension. I don't think there was intent to injure but it was a clear blindside hit and Piercy deserved the 5min major. Flint got bailed out by a phantom interference shortly after and then Smith made them pay at even strength 4on4. The Firebirds threw everything they had at us in games 3 and 4 and both games went to overtime. I think Saginaw is going to come out with a lot of energy in from of 5500 at The Dow and hopefully they can finish on the chances at the net. They had NUMEROUS chances last night and it hopped over a stick or something like that. Pretty great that they can miss all of those chances and still win the game...all credit goes to Lennox, he's playing fantastic and looks cool as a cucumber out there.
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Post by eric8199 on Apr 6, 2023 12:37:24 GMT -5
I don't think there will be any discipline unless something comes with an automatic suspension. I don't think there was intent to injure but it was a clear blindside hit and Piercy deserved the 5min major. Flint got bailed out by a phantom interference shortly after and then Smith made them pay at even strength 4on4. The Firebirds threw everything they had at us in games 3 and 4 and both games went to overtime. I think Saginaw is going to come out with a lot of energy in from of 5500 at The Dow and hopefully they can finish on the chances at the net. They had NUMEROUS chances last night and it hopped over a stick or something like that. Pretty great that they can miss all of those chances and still win the game...all credit goes to Lennox, he's playing fantastic and looks cool as a cucumber out there. Day deserves a shoutout as well. He definitely kept Flint in it last night. One thing is he leaves a lot of juicy rebounds, pucks just laying in front of open nets. In Game 1 and 2 we were pouncing on those and sinking them. In Flint we weren't doing it as much. Day makes a lot of great saves, but leaves a lot of second-chance opportunities. Need to take advantage of that. |
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