HOCKEY: Powerplay Scores 3 as Saline Defeats Allen Park, 5-1

Logan Dejanovich scored a goal and two assists to lead Saline to a 5-1 victory over Allen Park as the Michigan High School Hockey Showcase continued at the Chelsea Arctic Coliseum Ice Arena Thursday.

Griffin Granica stopped 20 of 21 shots for Saline, making several big saves during a scoreless first period.

Saline used its forecheck to cause turnovers for its first two goals. Early in the second period, Logan Dejanovich overpowered an Allen Park defenseman in the corner and centered the puck to Sasha Lozovvy, who scored to give Saline a 1-0 lead. Lozovvy moved up in the lineup when co-captain Gordie Niethammer left the game with an injury.

“We told (Sasha) to get open and we’ll find you. I saw him coming into the slot out of the corner. I did a no-look pass and he buried it,” Dejanovich said.

Moments later, Saline scored again. This time, Collin Clark intercepted a D-to-D pass and broke in alone, beating the Allen Park goalie with a wrist shot for a 2-0 lead.

From there, the Saline powerplay took over. Still in the second period and on the powerplay, Kyler Blake-Jones feathered a perfect pass through the slot to Dejanovich who slung a wrist shot over the goalie’s shoulder to make it 3-0.

Dejanovich from KBJ on the powerplay. Saline 3 Allen Park 0 pic.twitter.com/u3S6IFU4bT

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) February 7, 2019

“Kyler passed it across and I saw the goalie trip, I think, so I just roofed it, top shelf. He couldn’t do anything, really,” Dejanovich said.

Dejanovich's shot came from a tough angle.

The onslaught continued in the third period.

Murphy from Dejanovich on the PP pic.twitter.com/PyTprxAmvD

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) February 7, 2019

Dejanovich and Sasha Lozovvy worked the puck behind the net. Dejanovich detected defenseman Brendan Murphy sneaking from the point. Dejanovich put a pass on the tape and Murphy one-timed it through a defenseman and the goalie for a 4-0 lead.

Murphy and Dejanovich have combined for a lot of goals over the years.

“It’s awesome. Usually he’s on the right side and I’m backdoor on the left. He makes great moves that people don’t usually make. He can go one-on-one with a guy, slip it through his legs and then I sneak in backdoor. It’s always a great connection because if he makes a guy or two miss, then it pops me open, just like today,” Murphy said.

Allen Park broke the shutout with a powerplay goal.

Ausmus on the PP. 5-1 Saline pic.twitter.com/jhFdkoCVIl

— TheSalinePost (@TheSalinePost) February 7, 2019

Mason Ausmus scored Saline’s fifth goal with a beautiful rush on the powerplay, swerving through the center of the ice, deking a defenseman and then beating the goalie.

Saline plays Forest Hills Central at 8:15 p.m., Friday, in Chelsea.

Salt Springs Brewery 3 Stars

1. Logan Dejanovich – The big center showed patient playmaking, strong forechecking ability and a great wrist shot to lead Saline to victory. Dejanovich had a goal and two assists.
2. Sasha Lozovvy – When captain Gordie Niethammer was hurt, Sasha was called up to the top line and he responded with a goal and an assist.
3. Griffin Granica – Saline’s goalie stopped 20 of 21 shots – including a great save on a shorthanded two-on-one when the game was still scoreless late in the first period.

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