SAGINAW, Mich. (Interstat) — The Windsor Spitfires will visit the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday in minor league hockey action in the Ontario Hockey League at Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Mich.

Windsor enters 0-3-0, while Saginaw is 1-2-0. The Spitfires are seeking their first win and will try to avoid a fourth straight loss to open the season. They have dropped games to London twice, including an overtime decision, and most recently fell to Flint. In that Flint game, Ethan Garden scored once and put three shots on goal. Anthony Cristoforo recorded five shots, and Shawn Costello scored once with one shot. Garden, a center, is the player to watch for Windsor. He has generated offense throughout the early season, with one goal and three shots on goal against Flint, four shots on goal against London, and one assist, two shots and four penalty minutes in another meeting with London. Garden has recorded a point in two of Windsor’s three games. Windsor has been held to two goals in each of its last two games.

Saginaw is coming off a home win over Niagara, its first victory of the season. Dmitry Savin led the Spirit in that game with one goal, one assist and five shots on goal. Braidy Wassilyn added one goal, one assist and three shots, while Dima Zhilkin scored once and had four shots. Savin, a center, is the player to watch for Saginaw. He also had one assist and one shot on goal in a road game at Soo. Savin has recorded a point in each of his last two games. The Spirit have also lost to Flint at home and dropped an overtime decision at Soo. Saginaw has scored at least four goals in two of its three games.

The matchup features two teams trying to establish consistency in the OHL’s early schedule. Windsor will rely on Garden and a group that includes Cristoforo and Costello to create scoring chances. Saginaw will look to Savin, Wassilyn and Zhilkin to build on its recent offensive output. Dow Event Center has been a challenging road environment, and the Spitfires will need a strong start against a Spirit team playing at home.

After Saturday, Windsor is set to host North Bay before road games at Guelph and Owen Sound. Saginaw is scheduled to visit Kitchener and Brampton. The game is part of the Ontario Hockey League schedule.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Windsor 3, Saginaw 2. Interstat’s ELO system gives Windsor a 71.3 percent probability to win.