BREAKING: The Saginaw Spirit staged a stunning comeback, overcoming a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-3 in the 2025 OHL season opener on September 29, 2025. The Spirit scored five unanswered goals after a rocky start, setting the stage for an electrifying home opener against the Flint Firebirds tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at the Dow Event Center.
The Greyhounds jumped out to an early lead with goals from Charlie Hilton, Jakub Winkelhofer, and Jordan Charron in the first period. However, the tide turned in the second period when Saginaw’s Dimian Zhilkin netted a short-handed penalty shot, igniting the Spirit’s offensive surge.
Goaltender Stepan Shurygin was instrumental in the comeback, shutting out the Greyhounds in the last two periods with 18 saves, totaling 26 saves for the game.
As the second period progressed, 2025 draft pick Levin Harper scored, narrowing the gap to 3-2. The Spirit continued their momentum into the third period, where Egor Barabanov equalized with a power-play goal, assisted by Zhilkin and Harper.
The game-winner came from Zhilkin, who found the back of the net again with assists from Trevor Theuer and Graydon Jones. Nikita Klepov capped off the remarkable comeback with another power-play goal, supported by Barabanov and James Guo. The Spirit went 2-for-5 on power plays while keeping the Greyhounds scoreless on all six opportunities.
This thrilling victory not only boosts team morale but also sets a high bar for the upcoming match against the Firebirds. Fans are buzzing with excitement as the Spirit look to carry this momentum into their home arena.
Stay tuned for updates as the Saginaw Spirit aim to continue their winning streak in front of their home crowd tomorrow evening.