Spitfires win special teams battle over 67’s

The Ottawa 67’s knew they would be in for a good test on Saturday evening, but they couldn’t quite measure up to the Windsor Spitfires, falling 6-3. It didn’t take long for the vaunted Spitfires’ attack to make their mark on the game, as first overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection Ethan Belchetz found twine just over five minutes in, making good on Windsor’s power play.

The Barber Poles fought back to end the first, however. Nathan Amidovski entered the zone, and fed a pass across to Filip Ekberg, who wired a one-timer toward goal. It was wide of the mark, but banked off the end boards, and right to a wide-open Nic Whitehead, who tapped it into the open cage, tying the game into the intermission.

In the second frame, the Barber Poles and Spits power play units dazzled. Jack Nesbitt scored his 11th goal of the season just over three minutes in, but Ekberg scored to level the score once again on the man advantage.

About 50 seconds later, however, Ilya Protas gave Windsor the lead right back, and 40 seconds after that, the Spits cashed in on yet another power play opportunity, as Liam Greentree pounced on his chance, extending the lead to two right before the Zamboni hit the ice.

In the third, the 67’s power play continued to hum along. Luca Pinelli finished off a clever pass from Cooper Foster, and the Barber Poles pulled themselves back within one.

Cole Davis restored the lead for Windsor not long after, really putting Ottawa behind the eight-ball down two goals with about eight minutes to play. With frustration mounting, the Barber Poles got loose, and found themselves down two men. For the fourth time on the night, Windsor took advantage of their power play chance, this time it was Greentree, once again, sealing the victory.

Box score

Teams	Score	Shots on Goal	Power plays
Ottawa	3	19	2/2
Windsor	6	20	4/7