Spits Offense Sharp in 7-4 Win

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Just hours after being cleared to play, Tom Kuhnhackl led a 42-shot, 7-goal Windsor attack; as the Spits took a 3-1 series lead with a convincing win over the Otters in Erie earlier tonight.

Helped off the ice in the early stages of Monday's Game Three, Kuhnhackl took the skate on Wednesday morning, and was given the green light to play after he felt no-ill effects. And from the opening draw, he and linemate Alexander Khokhlachev were dynamic. 

The pair scored the game's opening goals, both speeding through Erie defenders in the opening four minutes, as the Spitfires took a 2-0 lead, chasing goalie Ramis Sadikov for a second consecutive game.

Kuhnhackl and KoKo had four goals and seven points combined in all. 

Stephen Johnston (3), Jake Carrick (3) and Zack Kassian (1) had the other Windsor goals. 

Despite a couple of bad bounces in the first period, Jack Campbell was again outstanding over the final 40 minutes.

Greg McKegg cut the Windsor lead to 4-3, less than five minutes into the third period. But the Spits would add a pair of goals before the period was out, restoring a three-goal lead they wouldn't give up.

David Shields, Tyler Hostetter and Mike Cazzola had the others for the Otters, who will face elimination on Friday night at the WFCU Centre. 

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Kuhnhackl, (1) (Duininck), 1:27 
WSR Khokhlachev, (1) (Robertson, Kuhnhackl), 3:52 
ER Hostetter, (1) (Festarini), 8:27 
WSR Johnston, (3) (Kassian, Duininck), 12:54 (PP) 
ER Shields, (1) (Luciani), 15:45

SECOND PERIOD
WSR Kassian, (1) (Ryan, Johnston), 0:47 
ER McKegg, (2) (Szydlowski, Shields), 4:56 
WSR Kuhnhackl, (2) (Carrick, Khokhlachev), 8:33 (PP) 
WSR Carrick, (3) (Kuhnhackl), 13:34 

THIRD PERIOD
ER Cazzola (3) (Szydlowski, Varone 5:01 (PP)
WSR Khokhlachev (2) (Carrick, Robertson) 6:50

SHOTS

WINDSOR 6-14-22=42

ERIE 9-7-7=23

POWER PLAYS
WINDSOR 2-FOR-6
ERIE 1-FOR-6

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