A big third period by the Saginaw Spirit was enough to deny the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors two points on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Fine scored the game-winner with 7:29 to go in the third period to lift the Spirit to a 3-1 win over the Majors in Ontario Hockey League play at the Hershey Centre, leaving the Majors in a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Mississauga (21-19-1-5) led 1-0 after 40 minutes but couldn't hold the Spirit at bay for the final 20 minutes as Saginaw scored three times in the third, including an empty net marker from Brandon Saad.
Dalton Young had the other goal and Saad added an assist for the Spirit, while goalie Clint Windsor made 30 saves in goal. Mika Partanen had the lone Majors goal in the second period and Spencer Martin was sharp in a losing cause, making 35 saves as Saginaw out-shot Mississauga 38-31.
"Spencer was very sharp for us, but we just couldn't keep them in check for all three periods," Mississauga General Manager/Coach James Boyd said. "We had our chances but they just wore us down in the third period and we couldn't get one back. The power play goal was huge for them."
After a scoreless first period Partanen opened the scoring at 12:36 of the second period, putting a backhand behind Windsor for the lone goal of the second period.
But the Spirit clawed back, with Young tying the game with a slap shot that beat Martin at 8:52 of the third period. Fine then tallied the winner on the power play at 12:31 and Saad completed the scoring firing a shot past Martin as he scrambled to get back in the net after falling when being pulled for the extra attacker.
Mississauga lost leading scorer Riley Brace with an injury in the third period when he crashed into the net and had to be helped off the ice. There was no immediate word as to the seriousness of his injury.
The Majors were 0-for-3 on the power play while the Spirit scored once in the four chances they got.
Mississauga hosts the Peterborough Petes Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Family Literacy Day at the Hershey Centre. Tickets are available at the Hershey Centre box office or online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
