Strome Sends ‘Em Home
He's part of one of the most dangerous trios in the OHL. And for 58 minutes, the Spitfires held him off the scoresheet.
But Ryan Strome's goal late in the third period gave the IceDogs a lead they wouldn't give up, as Niagara (16-7-2-1) dumped Windsor, 5-3 on Thursday night, in a sloppy affair at the WFCU Centre.
After the Spitfires took a 1-0 lead, just four minutes into the game, on Eric Locke's 15th goal of the season, the ice started to tilt in favour of the visitors.
Dylan MacEachern bounced a seeing-eye goal in off goalie Jack Campbell's skate from behind the net, to tie the game at 1-1 at the 9:30 mark. Then, just 34 seconds later, David Pacan finished off a real nice give-and-go with Andrew Agozzino to give the IceDogs the lead.
Niagara rounded out the scoring in the first period with a power play goal - Andrew Agozzino's 18th of the year - for a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
But the Spits found a way to get back in the game.
Alexander Khokhlachev pulled Windsor (15-11-0-1) to within a goal, with his 13th of year on the power play, at 10:01 of the second period.
Then, after a couple of failed power play attempts early in the third period, the Spits sent the home crowd into a frenzy, as Kenny Ryan tipped home a Khokhlachev shot to pull the Spits even at 14:12.
The game looked destined for overtime. But again, a defensive lapse cost the Spitfires - this time the decisive goal.
Strome blazed down the left wing, sneaking in behind the Windsor defence and burying a gorgeous, cross-ice pass from Freddie Hamilton, to make it 4-3 Niagara.
Hamilton and his brother Dougie then combined to set up Strome for his second of the night, and 13th of the year, into an empty net to round out the scoring.
SHOTS ON GOAL
NIAGARA 33, WINDSOR 32
SCORING
FIRST PERIOD- WSR Locke, (15) (Johnston, Ellis), 4:02 - NIAG MacEachern, (1) , 9:30 - NIAG Pacan, (9) (Agozzino), 10:14 - NIAG Agozzino, (18) (Hamilton, Strome), 16:04 (PP)
SECOND PERIOD - WSR Khokhlachev, (13) (Kassian, Duininck), 10:01 (PP)
THIRD PERIOD - WSR Ryan, (7) (Khokhlachev, Ellis), 14:12 - NIAG Strome, (12) (Hamilton, Graham), 18:14 - NIAG Strome, (13) (Hamilton, Hamilton), 19:20 (EN)
The Windsor Spitfires will host Sparky’s Toy Drive, presented by AM800 CKLW and Windsor Fire and Rescue Services at the Thursday, December 9th 7:05 p.m. game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the WFCU Centre. All fans attending the game are encouraged to bring new toys, which will be collected at the WFCU Centre entrances by Windsor firefighters. Additionally, fans can also donate funds to the cause as Windsor Fire and Rescue Services will be passing throughout the stands during a game intermission.
