windsorspitfires.com staff reports
This series had all the makings of being a great one between two evenly matched teams. Following today’s game, it will go the full distance, with Brett Thompson scoring his first goal of the series at 8:51 of overtime to give Erie a 6-5 overtime win. The series is now tied at three games apiece, with the seventh and deciding game to be played in Windsor on Tuesday.
Windsor got off to a big start in the game’s opening frame. Tom Kuhnhackl’s opened the scoring for the Spits 8:32 into the game, netting his third goal of the series. Taylor Carnevale scored two more at the 14:51 and 17:22 mark respectively, his second and third goals of the playoffs to give Windsor a commanding 3-0 lead after the game’s first 20 minutes.
However, much like the rest of the series, Erie refused to quit. Anthony Luciani continued his torrid goal scoring pace, getting the Otters on the board with his series leading seventh goal of the series 3:29 into the second period. 24 seconds later, Brett Cook netted his first goal of the post-season to bring the Otters back within one at 3-2.
Just when Erie was building momentum, Stephen Johnston responded for the Spits with his fourth of the playoffs, 32 seconds after Cook’s marker to give Windsor a 4-2 lead. But Windsor’s nemsis would strike again to close the second period, as Anthony Luciani scored his second goal of the game with just over a minute left to make it a 4-3 game.
With their backs to the wall again, Erie came out with desperation and Phil Varone tied the game at 4-4 on the power play at 6:39 of the final period. Varone registered his third goal of the playoffs and series leading 13th point. The Otters took their first lead of the game four minutes later with Derek Holden scoring his second goal of the playoffs, giving Erie a 5-4 advantage.
Erie almost put the game away a few minutes later with Luciani breaking in alone on Jack Campbell, but Campbell made a huge save with his right pad on Luciani’s deke to the backhand side. The save gave Windsor some much needed momentum and led to a goal by Spits defenceman Adrian Robertson, Windsor’s playoff scoring leader in points (9) with less than four minutes left in the contest to tie the affair at 5-5.
Both teams exchanged chances in the game’s final minutes but for the second straight contest, the game would be decided in overtime. This set the stage for Thompson’s game winning goal, Windsor will now play their first elimination game of the series on Tuesday in a winner-take-all sudden death seventh game.
#4 Windsor vs. #5 Erie – OHL Western Conference Quarter-Final Series (Round One), 2011 OHL Playoffs
Game 1 Thursday, March 24th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 2-1)
Game 2 Saturday, March 26th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 4-3, 2OT)
Game 3 Monday, March 28th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Windsor 6-2)
Game 4 Wednesday, March 30th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 7-4)
Game 5 Friday, April 1st – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 6-5, OT)
Game 6 Sunday, April 3rd – Windsor at Erie, 4:30 pm (Erie 6-5, OT)
Game 7 Tuesday, April 5th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm
* If necessary
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Kuhnhackl, (3) (Khokhlachev, Carrick), 8:32
WSR Carnevale, (2) (Rychel, Ellis), 14:51
WSR Carnevale, (3), (Robertson, Posa), 17:22
SECOND PERIOD
ERI Luciani, (6) (Varone), 3:29
ERI Cook, (1) (Appio, Pelech), 3:55
WSR Johnston, (4) (Ryan, Kassian), 4:27
ERI Luciani, (7) (Shields), 18:53
THIRD PERIOD
ERI Varone, (3) (Holden, Thompson), 6:49 (PP)
ERI Holden, (2) (Luciani, Varone), 10:56,
WSR Robertson, (2) (Kassian, Ryan), 16:01
OVERTIME
ERI Thompson, (1) (Varone, Luciani), 8:51
POWER PLAYS
WINDSOR: 0-FOR-2
ERIE: 1-FOR-2