by John-Eric Iannicello
windsorspitfires.com
Troy Passingham made 33 saves as the Windsor Spitfires edged the Erie Otters 5-3 Thursday night at the WFCU.
After an early exchange of chances, the Otters opened the scoring on their first power play of the evening. Kenny Ryan’s attempt to break up a cross-crease pass accidentally directed the puck past Passingham at 12:16 to give the Otters a 1-0 lead. The goal was credited to Derek Holden.
Just over a minute later the Otters would strike again. Matthew Paton and Jeremy Gottzman crashed the Spitfires net and Paton was able to push the puck past Passingham to give the Otters a 2-0 cushion at 13:19 of the first.
In a hole early, the Spitfires quickly struck with two goals of their own.
On a delayed penalty, Zack Kassian beat Ramis Sadikov with a quick wraparound, at 14:03, to cut into the Otters lead. And before the goal could even be announced the Spitfires jumped on the Otters again. Michael Whaley scored his first of the season on a nifty spin-o-rama beat Sadikov 22 seconds later.
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| Photo Credit: Andrew Adam |
Both teams came out swinging in the second. Quite literally.
A spirited scrap between Kyle Tarini and Mitch Gaulton started the second off with a bang. The fight seemed to spark the Spitfires, whose offensive pressure forced the Otters into a pair of penalties.
The Spits cashed in on a 5-on-3 advantage about five minutes in, when Stephen Johnston one-timed a Kassian pass home to put the Spitfires up 3-2.
The Spitfires took that lead into the third period. But the lead would be shortlived. Chris Marchese buried a rebound, at 5:04, to tie the game up once again, at 3-3.
Otters' forward Jordan Coccimiglio had a chance to pull his team ahead shorthanded, but Passingham stoned him on the breakaway. The save would prove crucial for the Spitfires, who regained the lead a minute later. Michael MacIntyre wired home his fifth of the season off a nice one-time pass from Eric Locke, at 7:59, to put the Spitfires on top 4-3.
Led by Passingham, the home side shut down the Otters for the rest of the third period., before Kassian added the insurance marker with an empty net goal in the final minute to seal the 5-3 win.
NOTES
Michael MacIntyre had the game-winning goal - his third of the year, tied for tops in the OHL ... Passingham made his second consecutive start and made 33 saves for his third win of the year...The Spitfires were 1-for-7 on the power play. Erie went 2-for-4 with the man advantage... The Spitfires dressed seven defenders with Grant Webermin jumping back in... Michael MacIntyre’s fight in the second with Matthew Paton required the Otters forward to receive some medical attention after the bout. Webermin and Chris Marchese, a couple of '94s, also fought... Craig Duninck and Brady Austin also chucked'em... Zack Kassian is on a five-game point streak with five goals and nine assists... For the first time this season, the Spitfires did not allow a goal in the second period... The Spitfires record after 10 games is 5-4-0-1... Andrew Clouthier continues to serve his five game suspension. He’s eligible to return this Saturday (October 16) against Plymouth... Brendan McCann has been assigned to the Spitfires Junior B affiliate the LaSalle Vipers... Other Spitfire scratches included Brady Vail, Josh Malecki and Cam Fowler who is still with the Anaheim Ducks.
Attendance at tonight’s game was 5,901.
THREE STARS
1. WSR – 10 Stephen Johnston
2. WSR – 14 Tom Kuhnhackl
3. WSR – 19 Zack Kassian
UP NEXT
The Spitfires travel to Plymouth this Saturday (October 16) to face-off against the Plymouth Whalers. Game time is 7:05pm.
