By Chris Lucas
In Play Magazine
Taylor Hall caught Tyler Seguin in the OHL points race tonight as the Windsor Spitfires defeated their rival Plymouth Whalers 6-4.
Robbie Czarnik started the scoring off for Plymouth to take a 1-0 lead. Seconds later, Colin MacDonald scored his first of the year, giving the Whalers an early two goal lead. But Justin Shugg stopped their momentum as he scored an important break away goal. Czarnik, then scored his second of the night, which would send Plymouth into the second with the lead.
The second started the same as the first with a goal from Tyler Brown. But it was all Windsor from there, as Ryan Ellis rifled a one-timer from the point. Ellis then scored another one on the power play bringing Windsor within one.
Hall scored an important game tying goal in the third. Followed up by Dale Mitchell crashing the net and finishing the loose puck. Hall was given the assist on the goal, which would tie him for points in the OHL with 105. Zack Kassian buried another quick one to finish off the Whalers.
Windsor made an amazing comeback tonight that showed a lot of effort from the Windsor team. It was also a big night for Hall as he finally caught up to Seguin in the OHL points lead race. But a loss for Windsor as Czarnik hit Mark Cantin from behind. He had a stiff neck and was brought to the hospital after the game.
Tonight's In Play! Magazine player of the game goes to Ellis. He had a two goal night and was physical while throwing his weight around. He almost rocked Plymouth's goal scorer Seguin.
The Spits will travel to London tomorrow. Game time will start at 7:30 p.m.
Spitfires’ Game Notes
Courtesy Windsor Spitfires
- With tonight’s win, Windsor, ranked 3rd in the CHL, clinched the OHL’s Western Conference regular season title for the second consecutive season and posted their 50 win of the season. With their 50th win tonight, the Spitfires joined the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 London Knights team as the only franchises to post consecutive 50 win seasons in the history of the OHL. The Spits 50th win also has them tied for the second most wins in team history as they have tied the 50 win season recorded by the 1987-1988 Compuware Spitfire team. Windsor has already clinched the West Division title.
- Windsor won the season series against Plymouth, with a 5-2-0-1 record in 8 contests against the Whalers
- Forward Taylor Hall scored one goal, his 40th of the season, and added two assists in tonight’s game as he was selected as the Penalty Box’s first star of the game. With tonight’s performance, Hall has taken the lead in the OHL’s scoring race, posting 106 points in 57 games. Hall leads all OHL players in assists with 66, is tied for second in the OHL with four shorthanded goals, is second in the league with a +46 plus-minus rating and is seventh in goals with 40. He has points in 27 of his past 28 games.
- Defenceman Ryan Ellis scored two goals tonight and has 61 points on the season, making this the third season that he has recorded a 60+ point campaign. Ellis was named the Penalty Box’s second star of the game and he is ranked fourth amongst OHL defencemen in scoring, with 61 points in 48 games. He is ranked sixth in the OHL with a +39 plus-minus rating and has points in 17 of his past 19 games. Ellis is the reigning OHL Defenceman of the Month for February, scoring 19 points in 11 February games.
- Forward Justin Shugg scored one goal and added one assist in tonight’s contest. Shugg is third in the OHL with 10 game winning goals, is ranked 10th in the OHL 38 goals and is tied for 17th in the league with 76 points in 65 games. He has 19 goals in his past 22 games.
- Forward Dale Mitchell scored the game winning goal for the Spitfires tonight with 3:33 left in the third period and had one assist. In 30 games this season, Mitchell has scored 15 goals and added 25 assists for 40 points with a +21 plus-minus rating.
- Defenceman Cam Fowler registered three assists in tonight’s game and is tied for fifth amongst all OHL defencemen in scoring with 55 points in 54 games. Fowler is tied for eighth with teammate Adam Henrique, posting a +37 plus-minus rating.
- Goaltender Troy Passingham came into the game in relief of Philipp Grubauer, stopping all 14 shots he faced for the win. Passingham is ranked second in the OHL with 35 wins, sixth in goals against average at 2.67 and is tied for sixth with three shutouts this year. His record is 35-9-0-3 in goal for the Spits this season.
- Windsor won its 12th straight home game tonight and are currently tied for first in the OHL with 29 home wins this season in 34 games played. The 29 wins at home for the Spits this season is the third best total for home wins by the Spitfires in team history.
- Windsor scored two goals on six power play opportunities tonight and has the league’s second best power play, operating at a 25.7% clip
- Windsor killed both of its penalties tonight and is ranked third in the OHL with an 84.9% penalty killing efficiency. They have not allowed a power play goal in three games.
- With six goals tonight, Windsor surpassed the 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1980-81 Spitfire teams in goals scored within one season and established the team’s third most prolific goal scoring attack with 325 goals
Upcoming Milestones
- If forward Scott Timmins scores one more goal, he will be the sixth Spitfire to score 30 goals this season, which will be a franchise record. The team currently has five 30 goal scorers (Hall, Shugg, Henrique, Nemisz and Wellwood) which has them tied with the 1987-1988 Compuware Spitfires, who also had five 30 goal scorers.
- Windsor’s next win will make this season the second best in team history for wins with 51, which will eclipse the 1987-1988 Compuware Spitfires mark of 50
- Forward Justin Shugg needs to score two more goals to reach 40 this season and Adam Henrique needs three goals to reach the 40 goal plateau
- With two more points, Wellwood will join Taylor Hall, Justin Shugg, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz in the 70 point club
