With Windsor up one goal late in the game, a pair of ill advised penalties by the Spitfires led to consecutive goals by Attack captain Garrett Wilson, including the game winner with just over three minutes left to give the Attack a 6-4 win on Saturday night in Owen Sound. The Attack now lead the Rogers Western Conference Championship series two games to one, with game four being played in Windsor on Monday night.
A failed clearing attempt by the Spits allowed the Attack to open the scoring, with Andrew Shaw roofing a back hand on the first shot recorded by either team to make it 1-0 6:56 into the game. Windsor scored shorthanded to tie the game at 9:44 of the opening frame with an unlikely combination striking as Craig Duininck drove to the net and tipped a point shot from Saverio Posa to score his first of the post-season.
Less than two minutes later, Owen Sound regained the lead on a Mike Halmo marker in a goal mouth scramble for a 2-1 Attack advantage. Both teams played the rest of the period with a physical edge and headed to the dressing room with the Attack preserving their one goal lead.
Early in the second period, Attack netminder Scott Stacjer misplayed a Spits dump in and Jeff Brown scored on a bad angle shot to tie the game at 2-2. The back and forth lead changes continued and Owen Sound would take their third lead of the game at the 3:25 mark, as Liam Heelis was allowed to walk into the Spits zone unmarked and scored on a wrist shot from the slot, making it 3-2.
Moments later, Windsor went on the power play and Zack MacQueen tipped an Adrian Robertson shot from the left circle to score his first of the playoffs and tie the game yet again at 3-3. The physical play continued from both sides and Jack Campbell made several big saves for the Spits to keep the game tied after two periods of play.
The Spitfires got off to a good start in the third period. On an Owen Sound clearing attempt, Saverio Posa pinched in to keep the play alive in Attack zone and the puck rolled to Tom Kuhnhackl who made a beautiful pass to Alex Khokhlachev in the slot. Koko unleashed a laser shot to score his eighth goal of the playoffs at 4:17, giving Windsor their first lead of the game at 4-3.
Windsor hung onto the lead for the majority of the period before ill advised penalties by Jake Carrick and Zack Kassian gave the Attack two late power plays. Owen Sound converted on each opportunity with Attack captain Garrett Wilson scoring both goals less than two minutes apart to give the home side a 5-4 advantage.
Windsor pulled their goalie with one minute left in the contest and Bobby Mignardi scored on a partial breakaway into an empty net to give Owen Sound a 6-4 win.
Game four of the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series between the Spits and Attack will be played on Monday, April 25th at the WFCU Centre.
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
OS Shaw, (6) (Halmo), 6:58
WSR Duininck, (1) (Posa, Carnevale), 9:44 (SH)
OS Halmo, (1) (Shaw, Schemitsch), 11:01
SECOND PERIOD
WSR Brown, (5) (Posa, Ellis) 1:14
OS Heelis, (5) (Blacker), 3:25
WSR MacQueen, (1) (Robertson, Kassian) 4:46 (PP)
THIRD PERIOD
WSR Khokhlachev, (8) (Kuhnhackl, Posa), 4:17
OS Wilson, (6) (Hishon, Stanisz), 15:27 (PP)
OS Wilson, (7) (Hishon, Stanisz), 16:56 (PP)
OS Mignardi, (8) (Blacker, Wilson), 19:42 (EN)
SHOTS
WINDSOR – 6 – 8 – 7 = 21
OWEN SOUND – 9 – 15 – 11 = 35
PPS
WINDSOR 1-FOR-3
OWEN SOUND 2-FOR-6
#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 (Owen Sound 6-4)
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