Greyhounds rally, before Brown buries OT winner
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo courtesy of Remo Agostino (Windsor Spitfires)
There are times when you surely don’t require forensic science in order to detect character.
That was the case for the Soo Greyhounds in Windsor on Thursday.
Facing the best team in the Western Conference, the Hounds rallied from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits, killed off a 5-on-3 Spitfires powerplay for 1:57 late in the third period, and got the overtime winner from Christopher Brown.
The result was a drama-soaked, 4-3 decision over the Spits in front of 5,650 at WFCU Centre.
“We have great character,” said Brown, who snapped one past Windsor netminder Joey Costanzo at 1:13 of OT.
“We showed a lot of fight. We have pretty-big hearts on this team and trust for each other,” added winger Marco Mignosa, who called it his club’s biggest win of the season, considering the opponent.
Relying on standout netminding from Landon Miller, the victory was the Greyhounds fourth straight on the road, improving their mark away from GFL Memorial Gardens to an impressive 8-3-0-0.
Trailing by two goals when the final period began, “We had an incredible third period to battle back and win a hockey game,” said head coach John Dean, whose club improved to 13-8-1-0, heading into Friday’s 7 p.m. start in Kitchener. “We have a group that’s determined, with extremely high character.”
Once the Soo’s Chase Reid collided with Windsor’s Cole Davis in OT, Brown found the puck on his stick when he began the rush from inside his own blue-line.
Looking at a 2-on-1 with Jordan Charron, Brown began down the right wing, before cutting through the slot and beating Costanzo low to the blocker side.
The veteran centre had a 2-on-1 in the first period, “But I made a mistake by passing,” he said. “This time I cut to the middle and shot. . . and it was game over.”
“The goal may not have happened without Charron going to the paint,” said Dean, who stood by anxiously as the Spitfires challenged, claiming goalie interference. “Oh my God, yes, I was nervous.”
The challenge proved fruitless and the Soo had snapped Windsor’s three-game win streak, dropping the Spitfires to 15-3-2-1.
Of his sixth goal of the season, Brown admitted this one was the biggest of his career.
“I think it is, for sure, it’s No. 1,” he said. “I kind of blacked out for a little bit. But the game winner in overtime is always fun to get.”
Dean lauded Brown for showing “absolutely incredible poise.”
However, the Hounds may not have had a chance to play in OT were it not for the performance of Miller.
The Barrie native made numerous big saves, including a critical stop with the Spits on a two-man advantage and 6:10 left in regulation. With the score tied 3-3, Miller came across the crease to rob Anthony Cristoforo.
Overall, Windsor was 0-5 on the powerplay, the Soo was 1-for-4.
“That was a ridiculous 5-on-3 kill,” said Dean. “Miller was a monster 5-on-3. We don’t win that game without Landon Miller. He was exceptional.”
The veteran netminder agreed he displayed confidence, saying: “It stems from the guys in front of me. I feel good. When the team needs you and you step up and make a big save, that’s obviously huge.”
Trailing 3-1, the Hounds cut into their deficit early in the third. On the powerplay, Chase Reid bumped his man off the puck and fed Mignosa alone in the slot. The overage banged it past Costanzo on the blocker side to make it 3-2 at 1:38.
Eleven minutes later, Brown intercepted a pass by Costanzo along the boards and fed Charron at the top of the right circle. He went high blocker to tie the game with his 16th goal of the season.
“Massive goal,” said Dean, whose club held a 28-27 edge in shots.
Travis Hayes, after Mignosa forced a turnover behind the Windsor net, had the other Soo goal. Ethan Belchetz notched a pair for the Spitfires. His second tally made it 3-1 just 1:30 into the middle stanza.
A.J. Spellacy, on a breakaway, had the other Windsor goal.
Both Brown and Mignosa finished with a goal and an assist for the winners. Carson Woodall had a pair of assists in defeat.
“This shows you can beat anybody when you play the way you’re supposed to and play as a team,” said Mignosa. “I’m pumped. That’s a big win.”
While Dean wasn’t entirely pleased – the Hounds surrendered several odd-man opportunities – the coach called it “a heck of a game against a heck of a team.”
Following the Kitchener clash, the Soo caps its trip on Sunday (2 p.m.) in London.
