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GAME RECAP
John-Eric Iannicello
windsorspitfires.com
(Windsor, Ontario) After a tough first half of the game, the Windsor Spitfires battled back from a 3-0 deficit to pull out a 5-4 victory over the Czech Republic U-20 national junior team earlier tonight in an exhibition game played at the WFCU Centre as part of a special series setup by the University of Windsor. Spitfire superstar Ryan Ellis led the Windsor Spitfires comeback by scoring two goals and four points overall, while assisting on the game winner in the third period.
The Spitfires had a great opportunity early in the first period to take the lead when they were awarded a 5-on-3 power play, but it would be the Czechs who would tally first. After the Spitfires failed to capitalize on their power play opportunities, Czech forward Petr Straka (Columbus’s 55th overall selection in 2010) scored on a quick wrap around that seemed to handcuff Spitfire goalie Michael Nishi, who was making his second start of the preseason to give the Czechs a 1-0 lead at the 8:40 mark.
With the Spitfires behind early, Zack Kassian attempted to spark the team by laying two big hits at both ends of the ice, but it would be the Czechs who would strike again – this time shorthanded. After Kassian lost the puck along the side boards forward David Tuma made a quick break into the Spitfires zone and let a shot go from the top of the circle that would beat Nishi under the arm to put the Spitfires down 2-0 heading towards the second period. Dunnick would prevent any further damage later in the period when he dove to stop a Czech forward who was heading in on a breakaway.
Czech goaltender Filip Novotny, who was solid in the first period stopping 11 shots, made the save of the night early in the second period when he denied Ellis on a shorthanded breakaway chance. Ellis made a few dekes before trying to tuck in a seemingly sure goal on his forehand side and looked to have had Novotny beat, but Novotny was able to reach back and make a brilliant save. Shortly after Ellis was stopped the Czechs would score their third goal of the night when Tomas Rachunek backhanded a cross-crease pass from David Tuma to increase the lead to 3-0.
Josh Malecki would relieve Nishi half-way through the second period in an effort to give both goalies some playing time. Nishi finished the game with 13 saves and three goals against.
Refusing to give up, the Spitfires responded with a goal of their own courtesy of Spitfire rookie Brady Vail who was able to bang home a goal from the high slot to cut the deficit to 3-1, but as soon as the Spitfires began to crawl back into the game, the Czechs responded, scoring 30 seconds later off a beautiful passing play that was finished by Petr Holik giving his team a 4-1 lead.
The Spitfires would cut into the Czech lead again when Zach MacQueen went top-shelf off a pass from rugged forward Brendan McCann to put the Spitfires into striking distance at 4-2 heading into the third period.
In the final period of play, the Spitfires started to get bounces that they were missing through the first two periods. Ryan Ellis, who was wearing the ‘C’ for the Spitfires, proved to be clutch for the Spitfires in the final 20 minutes of play. He led the Spitfires comeback at 2:26 of the third period on the power play when he let go a wrist shot that went high-glove through a Vail screen to put the Spitfires within one goal of the Czechs at 4-3. Shortly after Ellis would tally again on the power play with yet another wrist shot that found its way through a sea of players that were positioned in front of Czech goaltender Novotny to tie the game at 4-4.
With the game tied heading into the final minutes of play, Czech forwards Petr Straka took a holding penalty to give the Spitfires a power play opportunity at 17:56 of the third period. It was on the man advantage that the Spitfires completed their comeback at 19:39 when Spitfire forward Eric Locke tapped the puck past Novotny who was pulled out of position by the pucks redirection to give the Spitfires their first lead of the night and a gutsy, come from behind, 5-4 win.
Novotny made 29 saves for the Czechs while Malecki made 15 saves allowing one goal.
Players at NHL camps (as of September 9th):
Jack Campbell (Dallas Stars)
Troy Passingham (Carolina Hurricanes – Invite)
Adam Wallace (Ottawa Senators – Invite)
Stephen Johnston (Detroit Red Wings – Invite)
Tom Kuhnhackl (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Kenny Ryan (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Nick Czinder (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Injuries (as of September 9th):
Mitch Dunning (Lower-Body)
Grant Webermin (Lower-Body)