The Memorial Cup champs and third best ranked team in the country rolled into town Thursday for Friday's game. They are a team stacked with talent including two players who are being touted as possible 1-2 picks (Tylor Hall and Cam Fowler) in next year's NHL entry draft. They also iced 8 players who have been drafted in the NHL including two first rounders (Ryan Ellis 11th overall by Nashville in 09 and Greg Nimesz 25th overall by Calgary in 08).
Forward Combos:
Lindsay, Martindale, Nesbitt (starters)
Smith, Toffoli, Merrett
Sointu, Graovac, Carnevale
Hanes, Janes
D-pairs
Birkhoff, Cuma (starters)
Demers, Gibbons
Zanetti, Ceci
Hartwick
Goal: Perugini
Scratches: Schinkelshoek, Nigro (mono), Cowick (injury), Anderson
Like the game against the Soo last Sunday, Ottawa drew first blood. Just 32 seconds into the game Cody Lindsay scored his first goal of the season when he ripped the first shot of the game top shelf past Troy Passingham from the face-off circle. Ryan Martindale and Tyler Cuma were credited with the assists.
It was good up and down hockey but Windsor had the edge. It started with Ottawa's first PP...which wasn't so good although they managed to get a couple of shots through. Then it was Windsor's turn on the PP. The best in the league. And it only took one shot 30 seconds in. Adam Henrique's shot got by a screened Chris Perugini. Cam Fowler and Greg Nemisz got the assists. The rest of the period saw a lot of skating but not too many real scoring opportunities.
Ottawa had some good pressure early in the second but could not get a goal. Windsor went up by two with two PP goals. Like the first goal, these two were also scored on the first shot on goal on each of them. Cam Fowler got his first OHL goal with an easy tap in on the side when he was left all alone at the side of the net. Scott Timmins put the Spitfires ahead 3 minutes later. Ottawa had their chances but couldn't bury any of them. The shots after two were 22 - 14 for Ottawa but Windsor had the lead.
After two, it didn't look that good for the 67s but someone found the switch for these players during the second intermission.
The comback started just 2:40 into the period with Tyler Graovac notched his second goal of the season when he put Cuma's rebound past Passingham short side. Tyler Cuma had the only assist and it was a one-goal game.
The 67s continued playing aggressively, putting pucks on the net and going for the big fat rebounds coming from the Spitfire goalie and it paid off. About 5 minutes into the final frame, Thomas Nesbitt tied it up when his shot from below the goal line bounced into the net off Passingham. Cody Lindsay and Ryan Martindale assisted.
And it was just over the half-way mark when Cody Ceci scored a memorable first OHL goal that put his team ahead and stood as the game winner against the third ranked team in the country.
Windsor poured it on in the third and certainly had their chances, including 3 PPs, one of which was a 5-on-3 for 32 seconds. The 67s played more aggressively on the PK, Perugini made some great saves and Ottawa had some luck to boot to come back with 3 unanswered goals, defend the PP and hold of the final push by the Spitfires with the extra attacker.
Here's the game sheet.
Random Thoughts:
- Practice this week clearly paid off. Among the good news, the 67s did not give up any 5-on-5 goals. And they kept the Windsor big guns from doing real damage.
- Scare with Gibbons going down in the second when he went hard into the boards feet-first. He had to be helped off the ice to the dressing room. But he managed to come back later in the game but he probably played with a lot of pain.
- The new players, Graova, Smith, Ceci, Sointu and Janes are all improving.
- Lots of scouts in the house again, as expected with Taylor Hall and other promising '91 birth years on the ice.
- The Spitfires are very aggressive on their PP. They are fast enough to defend all over their zone.
- Passingham gave out really juicy rebounds. The Windsor D had to be sharp to clear them out of harm's way.
More Pictures:
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