Spitfires Beat Spirit in OT, 6-5
WINDSOR, ON.
The Spitfires collected an important two points with an overtime win on home ice over the visiting Saginaw Spirit.
In the first period, the Spirit dictated the pace of play as them hemmed the Spitfires in their zone for extended periods at a time. Despite the puck possession, the Spitfires were able to break the deadlock first. Just over halfway through the period, Peer got the puck behind the net and wrapped around the net and backhanded his 21st of the season. Wright and Christopoulos had assists on the goal. Just three and a half minutes later, the Spirit would tie the game off a deflection. The Spirit led in shots 8-6 after the first period.
In the second period, the Spirit got off to a quick start. They scored 49 seconds shorthanded in to take a 2-1 lead. The lead lasted exactly 1 minute as Peer would score his 22nd of the year to tie the game at 2. Just over two minutes later, Castle would shoot down the wing and create a 2 on 1 opportunity and he kept the puck and roofed his 18th of the season to give Windsor a 3-2 lead. With under 5 minutes to play in the period, the Spirit would score on the powerplay to tie the game at 3. With less than a minute to go, Harrison got the puck to Maillet and he sprung Maggio on a breakaway and he made no mistake with his nifty hands to score his 50th of the season. With the goal, Maggio moved into a tie for 7th on the all-time goals per season by a Spitfire. The Spitfires led 4-3 after 40 minutes however trailed in shots 20-15.
In the third period, the Spirit would tie the game at 4 just over two minutes in. The tie lasted 49 seconds as the Spitfires would go the other way and Castle would find Christopoulos on the back door for his 45th of the season. Exactly 14 minutes later, the Spirit would score on the powerplay to tie the game at 5 with under three minutes to play. This game needed overtime.
In the overtime frame, the Spitfires only needed one shot to take home the two points. A 2 on 1 with Maillet and Christopoulos, the Dundas native tried to feed Christopolos but the pass was blocked and landed back on the stick of Maillet who backhanded it home for his 23rd of the season. The Spitfires took home a big 2 points against the divisional opponent of the Spirit.
The Spitfires are back in action on the road for a double-header in the Soo. Back to back games vs the Greyhounds start on Friday at 7:07pm and Saturday at 7:07pm.
