The Saginaw Spirit will be without star goaltender Ivan Prosvetov for five games and overage defenceman Justin Murray for four games after the pair were suspended by the OHL.
Both will miss Game 3 of the series set for Guelph Monday night at 7 p.m.
Prosvetov was suspended for batting the puck into the crowd during a stoppage in play. After making a catch with his glove, he flipped the puck into the air and swing his stick, sending the puck sailing into the crowd.
Saginaw will be without starting goaltender, Ivan Prosvetov, for the remainder of the series (& potentially into the final round if they advance before game 7). This was an automatic 5-game suspension. https://t.co/3Eble6rk5J #SpiritNation #OHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rsdI7GTbSk
— Kathryn Jean (@msconduct) April 22, 2019
Prosvetov had been upset over a Guelph goal minutes earlier in which he felt he was interfered with.
Post-game, Saginaw coach Chris Lazary said Prosvetov hadn't heard the whistle and was just trying to clear the puck down the ice.
Murray was suspended for a hit to the head on the Guelph Storm's MacKenzie Entwistle.
The defenceman came across the ice to hit Entwistle along the boards, striking him directly in the head with his elbow.
Entwistle left the game and didn't return. He was to see a doctor Monday and his status for Monday night's game was up in the air, Storm coach George Burnett said.
Both instances occurred in the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference playoff series Saturday night in Saginaw.
The Spirit will now go with 16-year-old rookie Tristan Lennox in net. He has played in 17 career OHL games.
Lennox started the year in tier II hockey before joining Saginaw midway through the year. He played in 15 games, recording a 2.79 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
