Tom Kuhnhackl scored a pair of goals - one in the opening minute and one in the final minute - as the Spitfires grinded out a huge, 4-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack in Game Two of the Rogers Western Conference final at the WFCU Centre in Windsor on Thursday night. With the win, the Spits have now evened the series at 1-1.
Taylor Carnevale assisted on all four Windsor goals. Kerby Rychel and Zack Kassian also scored for the Spits.
Rychel's turned the tide in the second period.
The Spits were shorthanded four times in the frame, including a full two-minute, 5-on-3 that led to Jesse Blacker's go-ahead goal at 8:07.
But the home side managed to fend off a third goal, and Rychel got them even at 2-2 with a strong rush to the net, tipping home a tape-to-tape pass from Carnevale at 16:14.
Kassian's sixth of the playoffs and fourth in two games put Windsor up for good just 1:49 into the third. The big fella waltzed out of the left corner and let a harmless looking wrister go that hit a stick and eluded Scott Stajcer.
The Attack did everything they could to get back in it, peppering Campbell late with an empty net.
But Kuhnhackl's ninth of the playoffs put the win on ice. The lanky winger hit the post dead-on, before picking up his own rebound and putting a backhander home, rounding out the scoring at 4-2.
Jack Campbell was outstanding in the Windsor goal, making 33 saves for his ninth win of the playoffs.
The series now shifts back to Owen Sound for Game three on Saturday night at 7:30 pm. For game by game coverage, visit the Spits live blog at windsorspitfires.com or via twitter @GO_SPITS_GO. Fans can also tune into TVCOGECO to watch each game or catch the action live with Mike Miller, the Voice of the Spits on AM800.
Game four of the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series between the Spits and Attack will be played on Monday (April 25) at the WFCU Centre. Game time is set for 7:05 pm.
Fans are encouraged to wear red for each Spitfire home game as part of the Spits “Mission 9-10-11” theme for the 2011 OHL Playoffs.
SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Kuhnhackl, (8) (Carnevale, Khokhlachev), 0:43 (PP),
OS Mignardi, (7) (Wilson, Heelis), 19:50
SECOND PERIOD
OS Blacker, (4) (Stanisz), 8:07 (PP)
WSR Rychel, (2) (Carnevale, Ellis), 16:14
THIRD PERIOD
WSR Kassian, (6) (Carnevale, Posa), 1:49
WSR Kuhnhackl, (9) (Carnevale, Ryan), 19:21 (EN)
SHOTS
WINDSOR: 7 - 8 - 8 = 23
OWEN SOUND: 6 - 20 - 9 = 35
PPS
WINDSOR: 1-FOR-4
OWEN SOUND: 1-FOR-5
#1 Owen Sound vs. #4 Windsor – Rogers Western Conference Championship Series Schedule (Round Three)
2011 OHL Playoffs
Game 1 – Tuesday April 19 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound (Owen Sound 8-1)
Game 2 – Thursday April 21 at 7:05 pm at Windsor (Windsor 4-2)
Game 3 – Saturday April 23 at 7:30 pm at Owen Sound
Game 4 – Monday April 25 at 7:05 pm at Windsor
Game 5 – Wednesday April 27 at 7:00 pm at Owen Sound*
Game 6 – Friday April 29 at 7:05 pm at Windsor*
Game 7 – Sunday May 1 at 2:00 pm at Owen Sound*
*if necessary
