Attack Push Spits to the Brink

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Roman Berdnikov's breakaway goal stood up as the winner Monday night, as the Owen Sound Attack took a 3-1 lead in the Rogers Western Conference final, with a 3-2 win at the WFCU Centre.

The teams exchanged first period power play goals - Robby Mignardi for the visitors at 6:36, then Tom Kuhnhackl's 10th of the playoffs, on a bullet slapshot, at 15:59.

The second period was all about Jack Campbell, who made 22 saves in the frame, including an outstanding glove save off Andrew Shaw just shy of the nine-minute mark.

Jack's handywork was the sole reason the Spits headed to the room tied at 1-1. 

But it didn't take the Attack long to take a lead in the third. A Roman Berdnikov shot kicked out by Campbell bounced right onto the stick of Garrett Wilson, who potted the rebound into an empty net for a 2-1 lead at 2:52.

Berdnikov extended the lead to 3-1 just past the midway mark. After Adrian Robertson whiffed on a keep-in attempt at the Owen Sound blueline, the speedy Russian flew down the left wing, scooped up the puck and swooped in alone, beating Jack high glove side.

With Campbell on the bench, creating a 6-on-4 advantage, Tom Kuhnhackl's second of the game cut the lead to 3-2 at 17:23.

Shaw's goaltender interference penalty at 18:40 gave the Spits another power play, and another 6-on-4 with Campbell pulled again. But the Spits couldn't find the equalizer.

Windsor now faces elimination on Wednesday night in Owen Sound.

If necessary, Game Six will be played back at the WFCU Centre on Friday night.

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 PERIODOS Mignardi, (9) (Hishon, Wilson), 6:36 (PP) 

WSR Kuhnhackl, (10) (Carrick, Carnevale), 15:59 (PP)

SECOND PERIODNo Scoring

THIRD PERIODOS Wilson, (8) (Berdnikov, Hishon), 2:52

OS Berdnikov, (6) (Blacker) 10:24 

WSR Kuhnhackl, (11) (Carrick), 17:23 (PP)

SHOTSWINDSOR: 13 - 6  - 11 = 30 

OWEN SOUND: 10 - 22 - 12 = 44

PPSWINDSOR: 2-FOR-5

OWEN SOUND: 1-FOR-3

#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 (Owen Sound 3-2)

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

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The Attack will see adversity for the first time in the post-season

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By David Clark
In Play! Magazine

Owen Sound has been waiting for Windsor. The Memorial Cup winning Windsor Spitfires will come into their house and try to finish off the team that secured the top spot in Western Conference at the end of the regular season. Guys like Hishon, Wilson and Blacker are three good reasons to respect the Attack who also have three good goalies to choose from for game 1. It is likely that over-ager Scott Stajcer who has four playoff wins under his belt already will probably get the call.

Regarding the Spitfires, they now have a record for winning ten straight playoff series in the history of the Ontario Hockey League by defeating the Saginaw Spirit who just seemed to fold at the end. Windsor celebrates the win but the Attack are ready and in the dressing room already, looking at video, discussing the match-ups and figuring out the best way to get done in their favour. The Spitfires prepared themselves for the Attack by beating clubs like Erie and Saginaw who were considered favourites but the Spitfires proved them wrong.

If Zack Kassian stays hot for the Spitfires that would make a huge difference in this upcoming series. He is red-hot, coming off his first hat-trick in the playoffs against Saginaw. His physical presence is understood out there by all opposing teams who move as far away from him as possible because he brings on the pain. When he’s on the ice, they know it.

The most decorated defenceman in OHL history, Ryan Ellis is tied for second in the playoff scoring race. In fact, Windsor has five other Spitfires joining him in the top ten in scoring for the 2011 playoffs. Kuhnhackl and Johnston are even with Ellis at 16 points and Khoklachev just one point shy from the others has 15. Some of the muscle on the team including Carrick and Kass are at 14. Carrick leads the team with nine goals and sits in 8^th overall in the OHL at the moment.

Another defenceman, Adrian Robertson who came from the Peterborough Petes in the big trade is showing up for every game, and scoring in a few. He is a scrappy defender for sure but he has 13 points additionally.

Jack Campbell has been outstanding since he started this campaign in a winning fashion in Game 2 against a very offensive Erie team who had a few snipers who knew how to finish. Campbell kept Windsor in it, stopping the Luciani’s, McKegg’s and Varone’s most of the time.

Near the end, Campbell had outplayed Sadikov in this tight series. Saginaw had an even harder time solving him but Shalla gave him fits. Campbell is one of the main reasons the Spits are going to the conference finals. Campbell is a big game goalie from the US National Junior Development System and is playing to the max right now, like the two World Junior Tournament medals including a gold he received for a winning performance. This is his A game and fans happy to see it.  

     The coaching staff in Windsor are very experienced at winning titles, particularly Bob Jones who has a winning system to work with, inherited from part owner and former coach Bob Boughner. Jones has his own way of doing things too with the help of D.J. Smith and David Matsos, showing the team how to win.

In the upcoming series against a formidable Owen Sound team, the players are buying into the system Jones has implemented. The team also shows they know how to cope with the pressure associated with going far into the playoffs, a task for the coaching staff has instilled on them.

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Kass Trick Eliminates Spirit

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Tickets for the first two home games of the Rogers Western Conference Final series against the Owen Sound Attack go on sale Monday morning at 10AM to Season Ticket Holders and at 12 noon for the General Public.  STH have until Tuesday at 6PM to purchase their tickets before they are released to the general public. 

Game 2 of the series will be this Thursday night at 7:05.  Visit windsorspitifres.com for the complete series schedule.

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.

windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Zack Kassian was dominant on Sunday night, scoring a goal in each period as the Spitfires took a 5-0 win over the Saginaw Spirit in Game Six of the Western Conference semifinal.

The victory gave Windsor a 4-2 series win, and punched its ticket back to the Rogers Western Conference final for a third straight year, where they will face the top seeded Owen Sound Attack.

Kassian and Alexander Khokhlachev scored power play goals in the first period, staking the home side to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Kass was back at it in the second; this time scoring on a breakaway for his fourth of the playoffs, to make it 3-0.

By the time Jeff Brown extended the lead to 4-0 at 14:39, the Spits had what they needed.

Kassian completed the hat trick with an unassisted goal at 6:31 of the third period.

Jack Campbell made 25 saves for his second shutout of the series.

The Spitfires set a modern day record for most consecutive series wins tonight, with 10. The previous record was held by the Peterborough Petes. 

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 Khokhlachev, (7) (Kuhnhackl, Robertson), 7:19 (PP)

WSR Kassian, (3) (Johnston, Carnevale), 19:17 (PP)

SECOND PERIODWSR Kassian, (4) (Ryan), 8:58

WSR Brown, (4) (Posa), 14:39

THIRD PERIODWSR Kassian, (5) , 6:31

SHOTS

WINDSOR: 13 - 13 - 12 = 38

SAGINAW: 6 - 10 - 9 = 25

PPS

WINDSOR: 2-FOR-4

SAGINAW: 0-FOR-2

#2 Saginaw vs. #4 Windsor – OHL Western Conference Semi-Final Series (Round Two), 2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Friday, April 8^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm (Windsor 3-0)

Game 2 – Sunday, April 10^th @ Windsor – 2:05 pm (Saginaw 5-4, OT)

Game 3 – Tuesday, April 12^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm (Saginaw 5-2)

Game 4 – Thursday, April 14^th @ Windsor – 7:05 pm (Windsor 6-2)

Game 5 – Saturday, April 16^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm (Windsor 5-3)

Game 6 – Sunday, April 17^th @ Windsor – 7:05 pm (Windsor 5-0)

Windsor wins series four games to two

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Spirit Win 5-2, Take Series Lead

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2,574 fans made their way to the Dow Event Center for game three of Spits-Spirit Western Conference semi-final on Tuesday and the Spirit took a two games to one series lead, with a 5-2 win Tuesday night.

The home side got off to a good start three minutes into the contest.  Saginaw’s Garrett Ross converted a Jordan Szwarz feed for the game’s first goal, catching the Spits on a bad line change to take an early lead.

Midway through the frame, Windsor was unable to control a dump in behind their goal and Ivan Telegin found Josh Shalla unabated in front of the Spits goal, as Shalla doubled the lead for the home side.  

Ross increased Saginaw’s lead to 3-0, finding himself alone in front of the Spits goal and scoring his second goal of the game on a backhand that trickled between Campbell’s pads with less than a minute left in a period the Spits would like to forget.

The Spits didn’t fare much better at the start of the second frame.  Vincent Trocheck scored in transition on a two on one to give the Spirit a four goal lead at the 9:44 mark.  Campbell made a big save three minutes later on a seemingly sure goal for the Spirit and Zack Kassian scored Windsor’s first goal moments later on a breakaway, beating Mavric Parks high glove to cut the lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Alexander Khokhlachev close the gap to 4-2 for Saginaw with eight minutes to play, on a seemingly harmless wrist shot from the top right circle that deflected off a Spirit defenceman and fooled Mavric Parks.  Windsor’s apparent comeback was short lived though and Ivan Telegin capitalized on a Jake Carrick penalty less than two minutes later to restore Saginaw’s three-goal lead and securing the win for the Spirit.

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

SAG Ross, (2) (Szwarz, O’Connor) 3:34

SAG Shalla, (7) (Telegin, Sisca), 9:04

SAG Ross, (3) (Szwarz, O’Connor), 19:16

SECOND PERIOD

SAG Trocheck, (5) (Telegin, Saad), 9:50

WSR Kassian, (2), 14:09

THIRD PERIOD

WSR Khokhlachev, (5), 11:52

SAG Telegin, (2) Szwarz, O’Connor, 13:39 (PP)

SHOTS

WINDSOR: 10 – 8 – 13 = 31

SAGINAW: 12 – 8 – 9 = 29

POWER PLAY

WINDSOR 0-FOR-4

SAGINAW 1-FOR-5

#2 Saginaw vs. #4 Windsor – OHL Western Conference Semi-Final Series (Round Two), 2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1 – Friday, April 8^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm (Windsor 3-0)

Game 2 – Sunday, April 10^th @ Windsor – 2:05 pm (Saginaw 5-4, OT)

Game 3 – Tuesday, April 12^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm (Saginaw 5-2)

Game 4 – Thursday, April 14^th @ Windsor – 7:05 pm

Game 5 – Saturday, April 16^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm

*Game 6 – Sunday, April 17^th @ Windsor – 7:05 pm

*Game 7 – Monday, April 18^th @ Saginaw – 7:11 pm

* If necessary

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Windsor Climbs Over First Hurdle: Bring on the Spirit

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by David Clark

Saginaw got the better of the Windsor Spitfires this season by taking 4 of 6 games. On the last game of the season, Windsor handed the Spirit a loss that gave the Spits home-ice advantage in the 1^st round. A statement was made.

The 1^st round matchup with the Guelph Storm saw Saginaw struggle early in the series, losing two contests to the 7^th seeded Storm. Games 2 and 3 were in favour of the Storm at 6-2 and 7-3. Saginaw was a little spooked by this and turned things around, eventually winning the series. At the same time, Windsor was fighting with Erie in a closely-matched affair.

The Spirit have a lot of firepower spread across the roster with 4  bonifide point-getters  operating successfully in the playoffs so far this year. Josh Shalla was their leading scorer during the regular season with 72 points and 47 of those were goals. He is also tops on Saginaw in the playoffs and is the number 5 player in the OHL playoffs right now. Shalla isn’t the Captain but he is a natural leader on the team. He has 11 points at the moment.

Captain Jordan Szwarz (7), Vincent Trochek (7) and U.S. born Brandon Saad are all sporting 7 points at this time. John McFarland is another solid contributor who has turned out to be a great addition to the Spirit after a trade with the Sudbury Wolves. He plays determined and will be a leader wherever he plays down the road. He has 6 points already in the 2010/2011 campaign.

Ben Chariot is one of Saginaw’s most effective defenceman along with hard-hitting Dalton Prout from the Barrie Colts who hails from Kingsville. Chariot was traded to Saginaw this year, coming from Sudbury along with forward John McFarland. In another trade with the Barrie Colts a couple of years ago, Ryan O’Connor is the highest scoring defenceman on the Spirit with an impressive 41 points for the season. In the playoffs this year, he has six points. 

Another former Barrie Colt, Mavric Parks is the number one in Saginaw who carries a hefty 4.47 GAA and a low Save % @ 0.872. Like the playoffs in 2010 with the Colts, Parks exited the playoffs with a GAA @ 2.29 and a solid record at 7-2. He needs to improve his numbers today or Galansky could move into his spot.

Saginaw led the West Division all season long, that’s a real accomplishment but this is the playoffs where most teams elevate their play. The Spitfires just defeated a tough Erie team. They are more than prepared to square-off against Saginaw after an intense and challenging 7 game series with one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half. The Spirit are a hard-working club who have a lot of chemistry as a team but Windsor is playing their best hockey since 2010 and their talent is highly recognized in OHL circles. Saginaw may get a rude awakening if the Spitfires play the brand of hockey they exhibited in the last round.    

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Otters Win Again in OT, Game Seven Looms

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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 13^th 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.

Fans can follow the games on the Spits live blog at windsorspitfires.com or via twitter @GO_SPITS_GO.  Fans can also tune into TVCOGECO or catch the action live with Mike Miller, the Voice of the Spits on AM800.

#4 Windsor vs. #5 Erie – OHL Western Conference Quarter-Final Series (Round One), 2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1                Thursday, March 24^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 2-1)

Game 2                Saturday, March 26^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 4-3, 2OT)

Game 3                Monday, March 28^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Windsor 6-2)

Game 4                Wednesday, March 30^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 7-4)

Game 5                Friday, April 1^st – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 6-5, OT)

Game 6                Sunday, April 3^rd – Windsor at Erie, 4:30 pm (Erie 6-5, OT)

Game 7                Tuesday, April 5^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

* If necessary

SCORING
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

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First Round Surprises Expected in OHL Western Conference

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By David Clark

The Windsor Spitfires are facing a formidable opponent from Erie who have come back to notoriety by winning in overtime on Friday of this week, bringing them one game away from tying the series. Other series in the Western Conference are equally as competitive and warrant our attention.

In Plymouth (6) vs. Kitchener (3), some are surprised that the Whalers who are prevailing here at 3 games to 2 have won the first 2 games of the series and another in Game 4 but the Rangers have come back with two games of their own. Tonight’s game could be a series clincher for Plymouth. The match will be in Plymouth and this is officially Game 6. Notable contributors in previous games include Whaler’s Tyler Brown with 9 pts. and Stefan Noesan with 8 respectively. Scott Wedgewood backstops for Plymouth who has a somewhat respectable GAA @ 3.40 but an excellent S% at 0.923. Any Windsor Spitfire fan knows that Plymouth has a winning team and are more than capable of taking out the Rangers in six.

Kitchener is getting points from their best guys at the moment with Landeskog at 9 and a tally of 8 coming from defenceman sensation, Ryan Murphy. Brandon Maxwell is between the pipes with experience coming from last year’s playoffs but is struggling a little right now. The team in front of him are not performing as well as they can at this time but goalie Mike Morrison came out to play in Game 5 and led the team to a 6-4 victory, having stopped 39 of 43. “Tonight, Morrison held back the Whalers with a 2-0 shutout win that places Kitchener in a tie with Plymouth @ 3-3 in the series.”

A real shocker, the London Knights (8) who were mediocre at best during the regular season are all tied up in their series with the top-seeded Owen Sound Attack (1). Michael Houser has a 2-1-1 record in net for the Knights with a decent Save % at 0.934. In the scoring department, London is seeing contributions from Seth Griffith and Jared Knight who are both situated on the RW. Of the two skaters, Griffith leads the pack with 7 points and veteran forward Jared Knight isn’t far behind at 6.

Owen Sound is at the top looking down on everybody else but they’re having problems with the Knights lately but at this moment they have defeated London in Game 5 in a 6-0 shutout win. Owen Sound threw 44 shots on goal to a meagre 14 delivered by London. For the Attack, the scoring is spread across the roster where Robby Mignardi and Joey Hishon reign supreme with 5 points each. Captain Garrett Wilson has four, 3 goals and an assist, one of those goals happened this evening. Michael Zador (51:26) and Scott Stajcer (8:34) were in net for the Attack who now lead the series 3-2.

It’s hard to look at the numbers the Guelph Storm put up this season but they are a team with tons of talent and have improved their play since the end of the regular season. In the series against Saginaw, Guelph is down in games 3-2. A veteran-rich team, Beck, Latta and Holland are the stars on the Storm. The addition of Daniel Erlich from the London Knights and Richard Panik from Belleville has helped to improve their game.  Veteran goalie Brandon Foote has kept them in it with Saginaw but hasn’t been spectacular. In scoring, Peter Holland leads the way with 8 points.

The Saginaw Spirit have Josh Shalla who presently leads the team with 7 points. Sudbury import John McFarland has 6 and Jordan Szwarz also has 6. In net, one of the best goalie’s in the league, Mavric Parks has a 3 to 2 record due to tonight’s victory in Saginaw.   

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Otters Win OT Shocker

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Anthony Luciani's fourth goal of the night came four minutes into overtime, as the Erie Otters escaped the WFCU Centre with a 6-5 win in Game Five of their opening round series with the Windsor Spitfires on Friday night.

Early in the third period, the overage winger had given his club what looked like a commanding 5-2 lead. But goals by Kerby Rychel (1), Jake Carrick (4) and Ryan Ellis (3) tied the game at 5-5 with a little more than three minutes to play.

Luciani shocked a crowd of 5,945, picking Ellis' pocket as he veered out from behind his net before beating Jack Campbell (25 saves) at 4:03 of the extra session. 

The Otters built a 4-1 lead in the second period with a power play goals on three consecutive Windsor penalties.

Ramis Sadikov made 50 saves in goal for Erie, who now return home to host Game Six at the Tullio Arena (Sunday, 4:30).

Adrian Robertson (1) and Alexander Khokhlachev (3) had the other goals for Windsor. 
Phil Varone had a goal and four assists for the Otters.

Windsor leads the best of seven series three games to two and can clinch the series with a win on Sunday. 

#4 Windsor vs. #5 Erie – OHL Western Conference Quarter-Final Series (Round One), 2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1                Thursday, March 24^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 2-1)

Game 2                Saturday, March 26^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 4-3, 2OT)

Game 3                Monday, March 28^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Windsor 6-2)

Game 4                Wednesday, March 30^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm (Windsor 7-4)

Game 5                Friday, April 1^st – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm (Erie 6-5, OT)

Game 6                Sunday, April 3^rd – Windsor at Erie, 4:30 pm

*Game 7              Tuesday, April 5^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

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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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Campbell Confident Between the Pipes in Round 1

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By David Clark

Since Game 1, Jack Campbell has shown us 3 games worth of spectacular saves. On Saturday,

Game 2 at Tullio Arena, Jack held us in there for two overtime periods to squeak out a win.  This is to be expected coming from a player who backstopped for the U.S. World Juniors twice, winning gold in 2009/2010 and then a bronze in this year’s tournament. Campbell is a first round selection of the Dallas Stars, 12^th overall in 2010. Just recently, he signed a 3 year entry level contract with them.

Coach Bob Jones remarked about Game three, “It was a strong game from Jack.” On the other side, Sadikov surrendered six goals in the game, opening the door with 3 in the 3^rd in a matter of 62 seconds. A far cry from the outstanding performance he exhibited in each of the previous games.

“The guys came out in the third period to win,” says Campbell. “We wanted to go out there to take it to them!” “It’s great to get recognition but I came to help the team win.” Campbell managed to impress in Game 3 by offering a GAA @ 2.00 and a S% @ .938. He came up with 30 saves.

The 3 quick goals in the third and Campbell’s exceptional play have a way of instilling confidence in the team from Campbell to Kassian. According to Campbell, “the win gives us a lot of momentum going into Game 4.”

Jack Campbell seems to stand up during the playoffs. He thrives in big games. “Both goalies are focused,” exclaims Jones “Your best players need to be the best players in big games. Campbell answered the call in every game so far.

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Spitfires Win with Jack and Three of a Kind

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windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Fresh off a big overtime win in Erie on Saturday night, the Spits were looking to start fast and play a full 60 minutes in Game 3 at the WFCU Centre.

Turns out they did both tonight.

Leading 3-2 after 40 minutes, the Spitfires scored three times in a 1:02 span of the third period, on their way to a convincing 6-2 win over the Erie Otters. The victory gives the Spits a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 Western Conference quarter-final series.

Jeff Brown, Brady Vail and Kenny Ryan put the game out of reach, chasing Erie starter Ramis Sadikov.
Ryan Ellis, Stephen Johnston and Jake Carrick had the other Windsor goals, while Jack Campbell was outstanding once again - looking confident all night long and making 30 saves for the win.
Mike Cazzola and Shawn Szydlowski scored for Erie.

Game Four goes Wednesday night in Erie. 

SCORING
FIRST PERIOD
WSR Johnston, (2) (Kassian, Robertson), 15:18 (PP)
ER Cazzola, (2) (Yogan, Pelech), 15:44
WSR Carrick, (2) (Ellis, Kassian), 18:20 (PP)

SECOND PERIOD
ER Szydlowski, (2) (Cook, Hostetter), 15:06 (PP)
WSR Ellis (2), 17:12

THIRD PERIOD
WSR Brown, (3) (Rychel), 1:14
WSR Vail, (1) (Rychel), 1:46
WSR Ryan, (1), 2:16

SHOTS
WINDSOR: 18 - 11 - 9 = 38
ERIE: 10 - 7 - 15 = 32

POWER PLAYS
WINDSOR: 2-FOR-8
ERIE: 1-FOR-8

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Frustrating Opener For The Spits

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Windsorspitfires.com staff reports

Ramis Sadikov made 40 saves for the Otters and the Spitfires went 1-for-11 on the power play in a frustrating 2-1 loss in Game One of their Western Conference quarter-final series against Erie earlier tonight at the WFCU Centre.

Jack Campbell was outstanding in goal for Windsor, making 35 saves and Stephen Johnston scored on the power play for Windsor's only goal of the night.

Brett Thompson had assists on both Erie goals; a shorthanded marker in the first period by Phil Varone, and the eventual game winner early in the second from Anthony Luciani.

The Spitfires had the final seven power plays of the game and failed to score on six of them.

Game two of the best of seven series will be played at Tullio Arena in Erie on Saturday, March 26. 

SCORING

FIRST PERIOD

ER - VARONE (1) (THOMPSON, SHIELDS) 15:11 SH

SECOND PERIOD

ER - LUCIANI (1) (THOMPSON, VARONE) 1:20

WSR - JOHNSTON (1) (KASSIAN, ROBERTSON) 3:10 PP

THIRD PERIODNo Scoring

SHOTS

WINDSOR: 15 - 15 - 11 = 41

ERIE: 13 - 10 - 14 = 37

POWER PLAYS

WINDSOR: 1-FOR-11

ERIE: 0-FOR-3

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#4 Windsor Spitfires v #5 Erie Otters - OHL Playoffs Round One Schedule

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Windsor Spitfires Secure Home Ice Advantage in Round One of the 2011 OHL Playoffs

(Windsor) By virtue of Windsor’s 5-4 overtime victory against the Saginaw Spirit in Saginaw earlier tonight, the Windsor Spitfires have finished as the fourth seed in the OHL’s Western Conference and will have home ice advantage as they take on the Western Conference’s fifth ranked Erie Otters in round one of the 2011 OHL Playoffs.  Spitfire 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.

Entering tonight’s game, Windsor and Erie were tied for fourth in the Western Conference standings at 82 points apiece.  Windsor needed to earn at least one point in tonight’s game to move out of the #5 seed and past Erie in the standings, and the Spitfires victory catapulted them to the Western Conference’s #4 seed. 

Windsor will host the first game of the best of seven Western Conference Quarter-Final series against Erie on Thursday, March 24^th at 7:05 pm at the WFCU Centre.  The full schedule for the first round series is as follows:

#4 Windsor Spitfires vs. #5 Erie Otters – OHL Western Conference Quarter-Final Series (Round One), 2011 OHL Playoffs

Game 1                Thursday, March 24^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

Game 2                Saturday, March 26^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm

Game 3                Monday, March 28^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

Game 4                Wednesday, March 30^th – Windsor at Erie, 7 pm

*Game 5              Friday, April 1^st – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

*Game 6              Sunday, April 3^rd – Windsor at Erie, 4:30 pm

*Game 7              Tuesday, April 5^th – Erie at Windsor, 7:05 pm

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Spitfires Scenario Simplified

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By David Clark


I don’t think the majority of us were prepared to see the congestion that is the Western Conference. Regarding Windsor (80 pts.), the Spitfires have landed right in the centre of it all, fighting for home-ice advantage during the 2011 OHL playoffs.

The Spitfires were skating with the Saginaw Spirit (85 pts.) tonight where they had to make sure they didn’t lose the game or that would end their pursuit of the West Division title. A lacklustre showing tonight opened the doors for the Spirit to score five unanswered goals. Windsor was handed a 5-0 beating by one of the best teams in the league.

The Spits actually outshot the Spirit 41 to 35 but Saginaw capitalized on the quality chances they got even though Jack Campbell stood on his head. For Saginaw, 1st star, Mavric Parks seized the shutout having played down any Windsor advances on the night. Because of this result, the Spitfires lost their way to the division title and are now looking at a fourth or fifth place finish to the season. The Spirit are now officially the top dogs in the West Division of the Western Conference, second to the Owen Sound Attack (93 pts.) from the Midwest Division. This is where it starts to get interesting.

Windsor is presently tied with the Erie Otters in the conference with 80 points. Erie has been coming on strong since the beginning of February this year with 14 wins and 3 losses to brag about. The Otters defeated the Sarnia Sting today in a close 7-6 game that went down to the wire. Erie is now tied with the Spits after tonight’s activities.

The Otters are working at stealing the fourth place finish from Windsor. Windsor will likely face them in the 1st round, a tough team to beat these days. Nobody wants to deal with one of the hottest teams in the league in the 1st round!

Erie has 1 more game left to play against the high-flying Saginaw Spirit while Windsor has two to go, one against the Soo and the last game of the season vs. Saginaw again. Windsor needs only 3 points, two wins or a win + one from O/T.

It is possible that the Spitfires will finish the regular season in 4th with Erie in 5th but that could change. If two teams tie at the end of the season the team with the most wins will automatically advance because they have more wins than the other team. Windsor may very well get home-ice but their jumping into the ring with a fierce opponent. At least Plymouth isn’t in the picture anymore!

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