High-scoring Spitfires see benefits from grinding out overtime win against Attack

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Author of the article:

Jim Parker • Windsor Star

Publishing date:

Mar 11, 2022 • 21 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation

WINDSOR, ONTARIO:. MARCH 10, 2022 - Windsor's Daniel D'Amico misses on a scoring opportunity against Owen Sound goalie, Nick Chenard, in OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the Owen Sound Attack at the WFCU Centre, on Thursday, March 10, 2022.
WINDSOR, ONTARIO:. MARCH 10, 2022 – Windsor’s Daniel D’Amico misses on a scoring opportunity against Owen Sound goalie, Nick Chenard, in OHL action between the Windsor Spitfires and the Owen Sound Attack at the WFCU Centre, on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Photo by Dax Melmer /Windsor Star

The Windsor Spitfires believe there could be long-term benefits from grinding out a win on Thursday.

The normally high-scoring Spitfires needed overtime before squeezing out a 2-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack before 3,388 at the WFCU Centre.

“It’s definitely a good test to be in a low-scoring game,” said Spitfires’ captain Will Cuylle, who had both Windsor goals to reach 30 on the season. “We’ve had lots of games this season with five or six goals and lots of guys getting points.

“In the playoffs, games are going to end up like this one and I think this is a good preview.”

It was the Spitfires’ ninth-straight win at home and pushed the club back into the third seed in the Western Conference. If the season had ended on Thursday, the Attack, who came in riding a six-game winning streak, would be Windsor’s opponent in the first round of the playoffs.

“I won’t be surprised if we play them in the first round., but we’re trying to finish first in the conference and we’re not satisfied with third,” said Cuylle, whose team pulled to within four points of conference -leading Flint with three games in hand.

In 50 games this season, the Spitfires have been held to two goals or less on 11 occasions and Thursday marked just the second win for the club in those games.

“We play hard and sometimes stuff like that happens,” Spitfires’ defenseman Louka Henault said. “I think what we take away from a game like this is, as a team, we were relentless.

“I feel like those games are good and you learn to stick with it. I think, if you look at the Western Conference, there’s solid goalies all around and the playoffs is when everyone brings their best.”

He didn’t get a game start but Tecumseh’s Nick Chenard, who finished with 30 saves, was easily Owen Sound’s best player.

Windsor outshot the Attack 22-10 through 40 minutes, but Cuylle had the game’s only goal off a feed from OHL scoring leader Wyatt Johnston.

“I don’t think any guys were frustrated,” Cuylle said. “I knew we were playing good and eventually we were going to crack the goalie. We played a strong 60 minutes.”

Three minor penalties by the Spitfires in the third period drained Windsor’s momentum and Nicholas Porco scored 14 seconds after the expiration of one penalties to force overtime.

However, a hustle play to the puck by the Spitfires’ Pasqale Zito drew an Owen Sound penalty with just eight seconds left in regulation.

With a four-on-three advantage in overtime, Cuylle stuck with a play and stayed focused after the goal light went after Johnston’s shot went off the post. He was able to tuck home the winner just 36 seconds into overtime.

“I heard the ref screaming, ‘No’ and out of corner my eye him waving it off,” Cuylle said. “I skated behind the goalie and didn’t see the puck, but just got a stick on it and was able to hit it in.”

The Spitfires hit the road right after the game and will face the Otters in Erie, PA on Friday at 7 pm in the first of five-straight games away from home for the club.

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Game Summary

Thursday Result

Spitfires 2 Attack 1 (OT)

Owen Sound 0 0 1 0 – 1

Windsor 0 1 0 1 – 2

Firstperiod: Not scoring. Penalties: Machacek OS (boarding) 5:25, D’Amico W (roughing) 15:54.

Secondperiod: 1. Windsor, Cuylle 29 (Johnston) 12:34. Penalties: Porco OS (hooking) 5:53, Porco OS (hooking) 18:31.

Third period: 2. Owen Sound, Porco 19 (Burroughs) 13:11, Jordan OS (tripping) 19:52. Penalties: Johnston W (hooking) 4:50, DeAngelis W (holding) 10:57, Renwick W (holding) 16:21.

Overtime: 3. Windsor, Cuylle 30 (Johnston, Henault) :36 (pp). Penalties: None.

Game stats – SOG – Owen Sound 5 5 9 0 – 19 Windsor 10 12 9 1 – 32 Goal (shots-saves) – Owen Sound: Chenard (L,18-13-2-1) (32-20). Windsor: Onuska (W,8-4-1-1) (19-18). Power play (goals-chances) – Owen Sound 0-4. Windsor 1-4. Referees: Ben Moser (18) and Matt Scott (24). Linesmen: Dustin McCrank (68) and Geoff Rutherford (62). Att.: 3,388 at the WFCU Center.

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