Paterson stops 67 shots, but Tierney scores winner in double OT as Knights take 2-0 series lead

Sunday, 03.24.2013 / 6:54 PM The Canadian Press

LONDON, Ont. - Saginaw Spirit goaltender Jake Paterson gave his eighth-seeded club a chance to win on Sunday after stopping 67 shots against the top-seeded London Knights in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.

Chris Tierney, however, scored at 9:11 of the second overtime to give London a 3-2 victory in Game 2 of its Western Conference first-round matchup.

Tierney's winner came on London's 70th shot of the game and 19th of extra time as Paterson faced a career-high in shots against. The 19-year-old goaltender's previously game-high for shots on goal in the post season came last season against the Knights when he faced 48 in a 2-1 overtime loss.

Tierney also picked up an assist and has five points in the series, which leads his club, while London's regular-season scoring leader Seth Griffith has yet to pick up a point against Saginaw.

Bo Horvat scored twice for the Knights, who trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes of play, while Alex Broadhurst chipped in with two assists.

Justin Kea and Jimmy Lodge scored for the Spirit, who now trail in the series two games to none.

Anthony Stolarz was solid in net for London as he made 41 saves for the victory. The 18-year-old product of Jackson, N.J. has a .956 save percentage in the series with a 1.39 goals-against average.

London went 0 for 9 on the power play while Saginaw scored once on five chances with the man advantage.

Paterson stopped all 16 shots he faced in the opening period and Kea scored at 12:21 to give Saginaw a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of action.

Lodge made it 2-0 with a power-play goal late in the second period as Paterson turned away another 15 shots.

Horvat finally put London on the board at 6:57 of the third period.

It looked as if the Spirit were going to even the series at one game each, but Horvat tied the game with less than one second remaining in regulation time after batting home the puck on a goal-mouth scramble.

After a scoreless fourth period, Tierney completed the comeback for London off a pass from Broadhurst in the second overtime period.

Game 3 is set for Tuesday when the Spirit host the Knights at the Dow Event Center.

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