By Chris Lucas
In Play Magazine
The Windsor Spitfires defeated the Kitchener Rangers 6-2 in a rough game.
Scott Timmins got the Spits started as he deflected in the only goal of the period.
Greg Nemisz took a rocket one-timer that was put past Brandon Maxwell to put the Spitfires up by two. Adam Wallace then smacked in the loose puck as the Spits were pulling away. Fowler continued the Windsor domination as he fired in his own rebound on the power play. But Matthew Tipoff silenced the crowd with a goal of his own. Things started heating up and tempers started flaring as Jeff Skinner shoved the ref after the whistle. But that wouldn't stop John Moore to try and make a comeback for Kitchener as he brings the lead within two. Nemisz potted his second of the game to give Windsor the three goal lead once again.
Ryan Ellis scored an empty-netter from his own blue line in the third to seal up the victory for the Spitfires.
The Spits have not had the greatest luck against the Rangers this year but tonight they looked like a new team. They looked better than they have all season.
Bob Boughner, Head Coach of Windsor tells In Play! his thoughts on tonight's game.
“Best overall game we've played in a long time. We played very physical and our power play was good.”
Tonight's In Play! Magazine player of the game goes to Greg Nemisz. Nemisz scored two goals and was a plus one on the night. In a rough game like tonight's, Nemisz contributed a lot of hitting and was not a player that was afraid to throw his weight around.
The Spitfires leave tonight as they travel to Sault Ste. Marie to play the Greyhounds tomorrow. Game time will start at 7:30 p.m.
Game Notes courtesy Spitfires
- With tonight’s win, the CHL’s #3 ranked team stills lead the OHL with 91 points on the strength of a 43-8-0-5 record. The season series between both squads ends with each team winning two games.
- Goaltender Philipp Grubauer, the reigning OHL goaltender of the month for January, improves his record to 9-0-0-1 with the Spitfires since joining the team as he stopped 18 of 20 shots tonight. He also has a 2.09 goals against average and .919 save percentage in eleven games with the Spits. Grubauer is also ranked seventh in save percentage and .915 and tenth in the OHL with a 2.86 goals against average
- Forward Taylor Hall extended his point streak to a league high 18 consecutive games OHL this season. Hall has also a improved on his league high assist streak, which is now at 14 games as he had one assist in tonight’s game. He has 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points during his 18 game point streak. Hall is second overall in the OHL scoring race with 84 points in 47 games. Hall is also sixth in the OHL in goals scored with 34 and is second in the OHL with 50 assists. He is also ranked +36 plus-minus rating
- Defenseman Ryan Ellis scores one goal and adds two assists tonight, extending his point streak and assist streak to eight consecutive games and is tied for sixth with Spitfire teammate Cam Fowler amongst all OHL defencemen with 46 points in 38 games. He is also tenth in the OHL with a +31 plus-minus rating
- Forward Greg Nemisz scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season. With his 30th goal tonight, Nemisz joins Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Justin Shugg as Spitfires to have scored 30 goals this season. Nemisz is tied for 14th in league in scoring with 62 points and is eighth in the OHL with 31 goals.
- The Spitfires scored two powerplay goals in tonight’s game on four opportunities. Windsor leads the OHL in powerplay efficiency, operating at a 27.1% clip. They have scored at least one powerplay goal in 18 of their past 19 games and have scored two or more powerplay goals in each of their past six games
- Windsor killed seven penalties tonight and are ranked third in the league with a 84.7% penalty killing efficiency. They have not allowed a power play goal in five games and have killed 28 straight penalties, dating back to the Jan. 29th game against the London Knights.
- The Spitfires are also without Dale Mitchell due to injury and Zack Kassian due to suspension
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