It’s been two years since the Peterborough Petes played hockey in the United States but their return was forgettable as they lost to the Saginaw Spirit 4-2 on Sunday.
Petes’s Connor Lockhart wasted little time in recording his 100th career Ontario Hockey League point by forcing a turnover while shorthanded to feed Jonathan Melee a one-timer goal past Saginaw goalie Tristan Lennox for a 1-0 lead, his first of the season, and Lockhart would finally hit his milestone with 100 career points.
The Petes looked like they were able to keep the game under control in the second period until Saginaw pressed later in the period and scored with 59 seconds remaining. Roberto Mancini tied the game, putting it past Petes’s goaltender Michael Simpson. Tucker Robertson had a breakaway at the end of the period but could not get the shot off before the buzzer and the game remained tied into the third.
Saginaw took control of the game as they scored 3:50 into the third off a deflection from the Spirit’s Lincoln Moore for a 2-1 lead. The Petes countered at the 12:05 mark when J.R. Avon tied things at two apiece. Tommy Purdeller recorded his first career OHL assist with that goal. Two minutes later, Olivier Savard gave Saginaw the 3-2 lead and eventually tacked on an empty netter for a 4-2 win.
During the Petes three-game road trip that began Thursday, they lost to the West Division-leading Windsor Spitfires 3-2, beat the Flint Firebirds 3-2 and acquired Brennan Othmann (from the Firebirds) in exchange for defenceman Artem Guryev and three draft picks.
The Petes play on Thursday in support of Special Olympics Ontario as they host the rival Oshawa Generals.