Harper Continues Scoring Streak in Sunday Night Loss to Brantford
The Saginaw Spirit lost 6-2 to the Brantford Bulldogs at the Dow Event Center on Sunday night. Nikita Klepov scored a goal and added an assist, bringing his total to six points (4 goals, 2 assists) over three games this weekend. Egor Barabanov contributed two assists, marking his seventh multi-point game of the season.
Brantford Bulldogs’ Key Performances
Jake O’Brien extended his point streak to ten games by recording four assists during the win. Goaltender Ryerson Leenders saved 27 of 29 shots on goal.
Game Highlights
- The Bulldogs opened scoring when Layne Gallacher passed to Zack Sandhu, who converted a rebound past Saginaw goalie Stepan Shurygin, with Ben Danford assisting. This gave Brantford a 1-0 lead 1:40 into the first period.
- Adam Benak extended Brantford’s lead to 2-0 on the power play with a shot beating Shurygin on the low blocker side. Jake O’Brien and Adam Jiricek assisted on the goal.
- At 4:42, Nikita Klepov scored on a backhand shot in the slot for Saginaw, assisted by Egor Barabanov and Graydon Jones, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
- The Bulldogs then scored their second power-play goal after Caleb Malhotra’s pass deflected in off a Spirit defender.
Score Summary After First Period
Saginaw Spirit 0 – 2 Brantford Bulldogs
Total Shots: Saginaw 7 – Brantford 10
"Nikita Klepov had a goal and an assist, giving him six points in three games this weekend," noted during the match coverage.
The Spirit struggled to keep pace, and despite individual efforts, the Bulldogs controlled much of the game’s momentum.
Author's Summary: Despite strong individual performances, Saginaw Spirit fell to Brantford Bulldogs 6-2, with Klepov and Barabanov standing out for Saginaw in a tough weekend stretch.