Five power play goals not enough for Spitfires as Sting rallies late to secure victory

Content of the article

Windsor Spitfires head coach Marc Savard knew Friday’s game was a trick game.

Content of the article

After back-to-back road victories against Sault Ste. Marie to come within two points of first place, the Spitfires couldn’t put the same effort against the Sarnia Sting, bottom of the division.

Windsor had won all three games at Sarnia before Friday’s game, but the Sting scored three goals in the final 10 minutes for a 6-5 victory over the Spitfires in an empty Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

“(The Sting) made a few trades at the deadline and got younger, but they’re going to work hard,” Savard said. “Our guys have been consistent in showing up.”

Special teams put the Spitfires in position for the club’s 10th road win in 15 games, which would have tied the club for the league lead.

The Spitfires killed five power-play opportunities from Sarnia while converting five of seven chances with the man advantage to take a two-goal lead midway through the third period.

Content of the article

Back in the lineup after missing two games due to COVID-19 protocols, Pasquale Zito put the Spitfires on the board first on a power play at Windsor.

“(Zito) brings another element to our team and we’re a better team with him,” Savard said.

But the Spitfires played a little too loosely defensively and goalkeeper Xavier Medina blocked just 17 of 23 shots from the Sting, who were outscored 34-23.

After Zito’s goal, the Sting responded just 17 seconds later with Nolan Burke leveling the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Burke and Ryan Mast took Sarnia’s lead to 3-1 in the second period, but Will Cuylle’s power play goal brought the Spitfires within a goal just seven seconds after Mast scored. Daniel D’Amico added Windsor’s third goal on the power play to tie the game at 3-3 after 40 minutes.

Content of the article

Defenseman Andrew Perrot put the Spitfires back in front with his first goal since joining the team as he fired a shot from the face-off circle on a Windsor power play and the Zito’s second in the game, and Windsor’s fifth with the man advantage, appeared to have the visitors in control with less than 10 minutes left.

But just 32 seconds after Zito’s second goal, the Sting got life on a Theo Hill goal and Nolan DeBurse tied the game with just under seven minutes left in regulation time.

Windsor killed a Wyatt Johnston penalty late in the period, but Mast fired his second of the game past Medina just nine seconds after the winner’s penalty expired. With that, the Spitfires have failed to produce a run for only the second time in the last 12 games.

Content of the article

Windsor returns home Sunday to take on the Flint Firebirds, who are just two points behind the Spitfires in the West Division, at the WFCU Center. Game time is 5:05 p.m., but no fans will be allowed in the arena due to provincial COVID-19 regulations.

Spit pieces

Zito’s return gave the Spitfires a full and healthy roster with rookies Avval Baisov and Bronson Ride both safe and sound on Friday. Rookie Christopher O’Flaherty played the second game of a two-game suspension for being deemed the instigator of a fight in Sault Ste. Married.

The Canadian Hockey League announced Friday that the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which was scheduled to take place Feb. 2 in Kitchener, has been postponed due to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope is that the game can be rescheduled.

Content of the article

The OHL announced Friday that Windsor’s postponed game against the Guelph Storm, which was scheduled to be played on Thursday, will now be played on Tuesday. March 22 at 7 p.m., which could give fans time to find the stands.

[email protected]

twitter.com/winstarparker

Summary of the game

Friday result

Stinger 6 Spitfire 5

Windsor 1 2 2 – 5

Sarnia 1 2 3 – 6

First period: 1. Windsor, Zito 11 (Johnston, Cuylle) 5:48 (pp), 2. Sarnia, Burke 17 (Voit, Dann) 6:05. Penalties: Hill S (hook) 4:34, Ribau W (interference) 13:47.

Second period: 3. Sarnia, Burke 18 (Voit, Malyavin) 5:12, 4. Sarnia, Mast 5 (Namestnikov, DeGurse) 9:49, 5. Windsor, Cuylle 22 (Henault, Johnston) 9:56 (pp), 6. Windsor, D’Amico 9 (Abraham, Perrott) 15:45 (pp). Penalties: Ribau W (slashing) 7:41, McIntyre S (roughing) 9:49, McIntyre S (tripping) 10:38, Zito W (roughing) 10:57, MacDonell S (holding) 14:10, Dann S (high sticking ) ) 6:52 p.m.

Content of the article

Third period: 7. Windsor, Perrot 2 (Henault, Cuylle) 6:15 (pp), 8. Windsor, Zito 12 (Johnston, Perrott) 10:24 (pp), 9. Sarnia, Hill 10 (Voit, Dann) 10:58 , 10. Sarnia, DeGurse 8 (Voit, Burke) 13:14, 11. Sarnia, Mast 6 (Voit, Dann) 17:32. Penalties: Perrott W (stumble) 2:03, Filak S (too many men) 4:21, Perrot W (stumble), McIntyre S (stumble) 7:32, Mast S (collage high) 8:39, Perrot W (fight ), Pryce S (fight) 12:04, Johnston W (trigger) 15:23.

Game Statistics – SOG – Windsor 9 14 11 – 34 Sarnia 8 7 8 – 23 Goal (saves) – Windsor: Medina (L,9-5-0-1) (23-17). Sarnia: Gaudreau (W,8-5-3-0) (34-29). Power play (goal chances) – Windsor 5-7. Sarnia 0-5. Referees: Stephen Hiff (13) and Ben Wilson (32). Linesmen: Brad Horan (75) and Tristan Peacock (93). Att. : None at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.