By Chris Lucas
In Play Magazine
Windsor goes down three games to Kitchener with tonight's 5-3 loss.
Jeremy Morin scored on Kitchener's very first shot as it looked bad for Windsor as it was the only goal of the first period.
Zack Kassian and Adam Henrique scored back to back goals in the second to take a 2-1 lead. But Morin scored goals on his next two shifts to complete the hat-trick and to give the Rangers the lead once again.
The third was started off by Henrique putting in his second of the night. With just over a minute left in the game, and both teams tied at three, Gabriel Landeskog flipped the puck from center ice on goal, and it trickled through Troy Passingham's pads as that would be the game winner. Julian Cimadamore scored the empty netter to make the final 5-3.
A questionable call in the third as Windsor scored, then Taylor Hall got shoved into Kitchener goalie, Brandon Maxwell. The refs dis-allowed the goal and then gave Hall a penalty for goaltender interference and that really killed the Spits.
Bob Boughner, Head Coach of Windsor, tells In Play!
“We scored. Before that goal (game winner), we scored a goal. It didn't count. John Moore pushed Taylor Hall over into the goalie and was called interference. Henrique batted it in and Sean Reid's arm went up (Referee) after the puck was already behind the goal line. Terrible, terrible, terrible call. We should've been up 4-3 at that point.”
Tonight's In Play! Magazine player of the game is no surprise as it goes to Morin. He scored a hat-trick tonight and was clearly a huge part to Kitchener's win.
Windsor goes to Kitchener in a do-or-die situation on Tuesday for game four. Game time starts at 7 p.m.
Spitfires’ Game Notes – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series, Game Three
- With tonight’s 5-3 loss to the Rangers at the WFCU Centre, Windsor now trails the series three games to none. The Spitfires will face elimination from the 2010 post-season when Windsor travels to Kitchener for Game four of the series on Tuesday. Windsor last playoff series loss by way of a four game sweep occurred in the 2005 Playoffs when the London Knights swept the Spitfires in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
- Windsor outshot Kitchener 45-29 in the game and 160-105 to this point in the series. However, Kitchener has outscored the Spitfires 17-11 in the three contests.
- Forward Adam Henrique scored two goals in tonight’s contest and has scored at least one goal in five of his past six playoff games. He was named the Penalty Box’s Third Star of the game. Henrique is ranked second on the Spitfires in goals scored with nine and third on the team with 13 points in 11 playoff games.
- Forward Zack Kassian scored one goal tonight and has registered one point in each of his past six games. Kassian has four goal and eight assists for 12 points in 11 post-season games. His 12 points have him ranked fourth on the Spitfires in playoff scoring.
- Defenceman Ryan Ellis registered one assist in the game. Ellis is ranked first amongst all OHL defencemen, and is second on the Spitfires and is ranked seventh in league scoring as he has posted 20 points in 11 playoff games. He also leads all defencemen and is tied for second in the league with 18 assists. Ellis has recorded points in each of the Spitfires 11 playoff games and is tied for second in the OHL for points in consecutive playoff games.
- Forward Taylor Hall extended his point streak to 11 consecutive games tonight as he registered one assist in the game. He is tied with teammate Ryan Ellis for the second longest point streak in the league. Hall is tied for fourth in the OHL with a +11 plus-minus rating in the playoffs. He is also tied for third in the OHL with 10 goals and leads the Spitfires in points while being tied for fourth in the league with 21 points in the playoffs.
- Goaltender Troy Passingham made his first start of the post-season and made 24 saves on 28 shots faced in a losing effort.
- Windsor scored a power play goal for the first time in the series, converting one out of five power play opportunities tonight
- Windsor held Kitchener scoreless on the Rangers’ six power play opportunities, the first time that Windsor has held Kitchener without a goal on the man advantage in three games. The Rangers have outscored the Spitfires on special teams five goals to one after three games.
Spitfires’ Series Recap
2010 Windsor Spitfires “CODE RED” Playoff Run – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series
#1 Windsor vs. #3 Kitchener – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series (Round Three), 2010 OHL Playoffs (Kitchener Leads Series 3-0)
Game 1 – Thursday April 15 at 7:05 pm – Kitchener at Windsor (Kitchener wins 7-6 in overtime)
Game 2 – Saturday April 17 at 7:00 pm – Windsor at Kitchener (Kitchener wins 5-2)
Game 3 – Sunday April 18 at 7:05 pm – Kitchener at Windsor (Kitchener wins 5-3)
Game 4- Tuesday April 20 at 7:00 pm – Windsor at Kitchener
Game 5 – Thursday April 22 at 7:05 pm – Kitchener at Windsor*
Game 6 – Friday April 23 at 7:30 pm – Windsor at Kitchener*
Game 7 – Sunday April 25 at 2:05 pm – Kitchener at Windsor*
*if necessary
