Speers Nets Assist as Soo Takes Series Lead over Flint

Blake Speers had an assist on the game winning goal in game four as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds took a three games to one series lead over the Flint Firebirds. The Greyhounds won 5-2 at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint.

Speers had the primary assist on Boris Katchouk’s goal just 17 seconds into the second period to make it 3-0 at the time. Bobby MacIntyre had the secondary assist on the goal. Morgan Frost, Otto Makinen, David Miller and MacIntyre also scored for Sault Ste. Marie to give the Greyhounds a commanding lead in their best-of-seven series.

Everett Clark and Kole Sherwood had the goals for the Firebirds. Hayden Verbeek – nephew of Devils alumni Pat Verbeek – assisted on Miller’s goal at 2:35 along with Jack Kopacka to give the Greyhounds a 4-0 lead at the time.

Game five of this opening round OHL playoff series takes place on March 31 from the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

Another Devils prospect is also having some playoff success on another continent. Yegor Rykov, currently playing for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League has advanced to the Gagarin Cup Finals and will play for the top trophy in Russian hockey.

SKA completed a sweep of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in their best-of-seven Western Conference Final earlier today at Arena 2000 in Yaroslavl.

Former Devil Ilya Kovalchuk also, of course, plays for SKA St. Petersburg while another former Devil, Andrei Loktionov is a member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. SKA will meet the winners of the Eastern Conference Final, currently ongoing between Ak Bars Kazan and Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

The KHL’s Gagarin Cup Finals begin early next month.