Spitfires Emphasize Progress Despite Mixed Results on Northern Swing
The Windsor Spitfires concluded a challenging three-game road trip through northern Ontario with a focus on the broader picture, despite falling short of their desired outcome. The team secured three of a possible six points during the grueling stretch that covered nearly 1,700 kilometers over four days.
A Tough Finale in Sault Ste. Marie
Sunday's matchup against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds ended in a 5-2 defeat for the Spitfires, despite a valiant comeback effort. After falling behind 3-0 in the second period, Windsor mounted a determined response with goals from Cole Davis and Ethan Garden to narrow the gap to a single goal heading into the final frame.
The third period saw the Spitfires dominate play with a commanding 19-7 shot advantage, finishing the game with 38 total shots compared to the Greyhounds' 23. However, Greyhounds' goaltender Carter George stood tall, making several spectacular saves to preserve the victory for his team.
"A goalie like that, sometimes you can't beat them," Davis acknowledged. "George had some lights-out saves that, on most occasions, would be in."
Analyzing the Complete Road Trip
The northern swing began with a disappointing 5-4 shootout loss to the North Bay Battalion on Thursday, where Windsor surrendered a pair of two-goal leads. The team rebounded with a solid 5-2 victory over the Sudbury Wolves before concluding with Sunday's defeat.
Spitfires' head coach Greg Walters offered a balanced assessment of the team's performance across the three games. "North Bay, I felt we didn't play the right way and we got what we deserved," Walters stated. "In Sudbury, I thought we were extremely good defensively and (Sunday), we didn't get off to a great start, obviously, but made some adjustments and had a chance, but fell a little short."
Conference Standings Remain Tight
The results leave the Spitfires in a competitive position within the OHL's Western Conference. Windsor currently sits two points behind the Flint Firebirds, who lead both the conference and the West Division. The Spitfires and Kitchener Rangers are tied with 73 points each, while the Greyhounds have 66 points and the London Knights trail with 65.
Despite the close standings, Davis emphasized the team's internal focus. "Our goal is still to come first and win the conference, but we're not too worried about where other teams are," the forward explained. "We'll find a way to get to our goal and achieve our goals."
Finding Positives in Progress
Coach Walters identified measurable improvement from the beginning to the end of the road trip, even as both games resulted in losses. "I'm satisfied," Walters remarked. "We dominated the second and third periods on Sunday. It was our best two periods that we played on the trip and that's the most important thing."
The coach acknowledged the frustration of coming up short while recognizing the quality of competition. "It's frustrating, but at the same time our players, we're getting the chances. We easily could have been up or tied the game. They're a good team with a good goalie."
Looking Ahead to Home Ice
The Spitfires now prepare to return to home ice at the WFCU Centre, where they will host the Sarnia Sting on Thursday. The team aims to build upon the lessons learned during their northern journey as they continue their push toward the postseason.
Defenceman Wyatt Kennedy summarized the team's resilient mindset following Sunday's game. "Down 0-3, it's always tough to climb that hole, but we did a job getting back," Kennedy noted, reflecting the determination that characterized the Spitfires' response to adversity throughout the challenging road trip.
