By Chris Lucas
In Play Magazine
The Windsor Spitfires scored a total of five goals on Chris Carrozzi, who is ranked number one goalie in the OHL, to defeat the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 5-1.
The Windsor Spitfires came out wearing new jerseys in appreciation to Mickey Renaud night. Justin Shugg started the game with a wrist-shot past Carrozzi's blocker. Jordan Mayer answered back with some nice stick handling and a goal to tie it up. But Kenny Ryan slid the puck past the goal line to give Windsor the 2-1 lead going into the second.
Adam Henrique scored the only goal of the period to make it 3-1 Windsor.
Henrique came out firing once again as he added another goal, this time being on the power play. Then Greg Nemisz buried a loose puck to finish the games scoring as the Spits went on to defeat the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.
Both teams tonight have already clinched a playoff berth, so this was a test to see where both teams stand and Windsor looked great.
Coach of the Windsor Spitfires Bob Boughner explains to In Play! his thoughts on his teams play. “We stayed patient when we had to. Tonight was a game when all four lines were going.”
Tonight's In Play! Magazine player of the game went to Henrique. Henrique scored two goals tonight that basically blew this game wide open. Every time he was on the ice, he was showing speed and hustle.
Henrique tells In Play! how he expected his team to have a big game. “We knew coming into this game that we had to have a big game.”
The Spitfires will travel to Barrie to play the Colts in a big game this Saturday. Game time will start at 7:30 p.m.
Spitfires’ Game Notes
- The Spitfires hosted special pre-game tributes to honour their “Captain Forever” Mickey Renaud. Today was the two year anniversary of Renaud’s passing and the team wore special jerseys tonight in remembrance of their fallen captain.
- With tonight’s win, the CHL’s #3 ranked team defeated the CHL’s 9th ranked Majors and the Spitfires have swept the season series with two wins against Mississauga. Windsor leads the OHL with 95 points on the strength of a 45-9-0-5 record. The Spitfires have now posted their third best point total in team history as they surpassed the 2007-2008 Spitfire squad which finished with 94 points.
- Defenseman Ryan Ellis registered two assists tonight, extending his point streak and assist streak to twelve consecutive games, which are the highest streaks posted amongst all OHL defensemen this season. Ellis is tied with teammate Mark Cundari for fifth amongst all OHL defensemen with 50 points in 41 games, with teammate Cam Fowler trailing right behind in seventh with 47 points in 47 games. Mark Cundari is tied for first in the OHL with a +40 plus-minus rating, with Cam Fowler and Taylor Hall being tied for fifth with +36. Ellis is also tenth in the OHL with a +31.
- Forward Adam Henrique scored two goals tonight and was selected as the game’s first star. Henrique is 15th in the OHL scoring race this season with 66 points in 46 games. He is also tied for eighth in the OHL with 33 goals.
- Forward Justin Shugg scored one goal in tonight’s contest and has now scored at least one goal in 11 of his past 14 games. Shugg is tied for 15th in the OHL scoring race with 65 points in 58 games. He is also tied for second in the OHL with eight game winning goals and is tied for eighth with teammate Adam Henrique in the OHL with 33 goals.
- Forward Taylor Hall registered three assists tonight and was the game’s second star. Hall is second overall in the OHL scoring race with 88 points in 50 games. Hall is also tied for sixth in the OHL in goals scored with 34 and is second in the league with 54 assists.
- With tonight’s win, goaltender Philipp Grubauer is now 10-1-0-0 since joining the Spitfires as he stopped 28 of 29 shots tonight. Grubauer is ranked seventh in the OHL with a .913 save percentage.
- Five Spitfires are ranked in OHL’s top 20 scorers (Hall 2nd with 88 points, Nemisz tied for 12th with 67 points, Shugg and Henrique tied for 15th with 65 points and Wellwood tied for 20th with 63 points). Forward Greg Nemisz also had one goal and one assist in tonight’s contest.
- Windsor was without Zack Kassian tonight due to suspension and Dale Mitchell due to injury
- Windsor is tied for the best winning percentage at home in the OHL, winning 86.7% of their games at the WFCU Centre. They are also second in the league in home wins with 25.
- Windsor scored two goals on seven power play opportunities tonight. Windsor leads the OHL in power play efficiency, operating at a 27.2% clip. They have scored at least one power play goal in 20 of their past 22 games and have scored two or more power play goals in eight of their past nine games.
- Windsor killed all five penalties that they were assessed tonight. The team is ranked second in the league with a 85% penalty killing efficiency.
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