The rally falls short as the Spitfires lose ground to the leading greyhounds of the West Division

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It was a missed opportunity for the Windsor Spitfires.

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The Spitfires had a chance to get within two points of West Division leader Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Saturday, but they didn’t find enough despair in their game until it was too late.

Building a three-goal lead in the third period, the Greyhounds stopped a late charge from the Spitfires for a 4-3-before-3,266 victory at the WFCU Center to open a six-point lead over second-place Windsor.

“Going into the game, we knew they are a good hockey team,” said Spitfires forward Daniel D’Amico, who was playing in the 200th game of his career. “We could have done a couple of better things to stay in the game for 60 minutes. We could have played the whole game like we did at the end. “

The Spitfires still have three games in hand at the Greyhounds, but the preseason favorite to win the division now has more to go in that quest.

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“We waited too long to get involved in the third period,” said Spitfires head coach Marc Savard. “We did it close. We felt we had good opportunities. The point of the story is that we can’t wait against good teams. You may be able to do that with some of the minor teams in the league, but a team like this is going to shut you down. “

Rookie defender James Jodoin, who has been taking turns up front due to injuries, pushed the Spitfires forward with their first OHL goal less than three minutes into the game.

“They took a weight off my shoulder,” Jodoin said of his first goal.

But the Greyhounds gained momentum with the only three power play opportunities in the opening period and Justin Cloutier got the Greyhounds equalized the men’s lead.

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“We tried to get the donut (by not allowing a power play goal), but they have a couple of skilled forwards,” D’Amico said.

Sault Ste. Marie actually took advantage of three of her five power play opportunities in the game, while the Spitfires only had a one-man lead.

“It’s hard to blame the umpires, but I thought we might have had a couple more chances (of power play),” D’Amico said.

Robert Calisti’s goal at the end of the second period was followed shortly after by a Tanner Dickinson goal with 68 seconds left in the period to put the Greyhounds up 3-1 after 40 minutes.

“The second (period) was probably the worst of the night,” Savard said.

Tye Kartye’s power goal seemed to have the Greyhounds in control with a 4-1 lead midway through the third period, but the Spitfires would team up to make it interesting. Jodoin got the Spitfires back on track with their second game with just over five minutes to go in regulation time.

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“It hasn’t been easy and it’s been a bit of a learning curve, but I’m starting to understand it,” 18-year-old Jodoin said of the jump from defense to the lead. “I don’t mind moving from one place to another. The more versatile I can be, the more valuable. “

With rookie goalie Kyle Downey on the bench for an extra hitter, Pasquale Zito converted the game from a goal with 36 seconds left.

And seconds after the ensuing showdown, D’Amico shoved a loose puck into the slot and fired a shot at the post.

“I honestly thought it was on the net,” D’Amico said. “Like I said, just don’t get the rebounds. I would have loved to be out of the post and in. “

Windsor came no closer as the club’s best three-game win streak of the season came to an end.

“The record just wasn’t bouncing our way,” D’Amico said. “We had a couple of breakout opportunities and the puck bounced or a pass to the front and the puck rocked.

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“At the end of the day, you have to push. We had a good chance to get a crack and first place, but it’s still early and we play them a couple more times and we will seek revenge. “

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Game Summary

Saturday result

Greyhounds 4 Spitfires 3

Sault Ste. Maria 1 2 1 – 4

Windsor 1 0 2-3

First period: 1. Windsor, Jodoin 1 (unassisted) 2:37, 2. Sault Ste. Marie, Cloutier 2 (McConnell-Barker, Montroy) 9:35 (pp.). Penalties: Abraham W (cut) 8:09, Baisov W (shot) 11:57, Downey W (game delay) 16:40, Kerins SSM (roughing), Ladd W (roughing) 20:00.

Second period: 3. Sault Ste. Marie, Calisti 6 (unaided) 17:35 (pp.), 4. Sault Ste. Marie, Dickinson 5 (Montroy, Kudryavtsev) 18:52. Penalty fee: Cuylle W (game delay) 15:40.

Third period: 5. Sault Ste. Marie, 9:32 (pp.), 6. Windsor, Jodoin 2 (unaided) 14:42, 7. Windsor, Zito 6 (Johnston, Henault) 19:24. Penalties: Sobolev W (interference) 7:39, Carlisle SSM (high adherence) 10:02.

Game Statistics – SOG – Sault Ste. Marie 8 8 9 – 25 Windsor 6 9 10 – 25 Goal (shot-saves) – Sault Ste. Marie: Thigh (W, 2-1-0-0) (25-22). Windsor: Downey (L, 2-2-0-0) (25-21). Power play (goals-chances) – Sault Ste. Marie 3-5. Windsor 0-1. Referees: Ryan Jensen (36) and Joe Monette (25). Linesmen: Jordan Hurtubise (57) and Kurtis Pare (70). For: 3266 at the WFCU Center.