Spitfires stun Firebirds with incredible comeback win! Lead series 2-0
Spitfires stun Firebirds with incredible comeback win! Lead series 2-0
Harvey, Walton shine as Windsor holds on for 6-5 thriller at WFCU Centre
WINDSOR, Ont. — They needed every last second of it.
The Windsor Spitfires weathered a relentless second-period comeback by the Flint Firebirds and found their legs again in the third when it mattered most, closing out a heart-pounding 6-5 victory Sunday afternoon at a raucous WFCU Centre to grab a 2-0 series lead in the OHL’s Western Conference semifinal.
Before a crowd of 5,010 — the energy inside the barn matching every twist and turn of a game that seemed to shift momentum by the minute — Windsor built a 3-2 lead after twenty minutes, the second period was all Firebirds and the third was all Spitfires.
It was the kind of playoff hockey that reminds you why the spring is special.
A DOMINANT FIRST SETS THE TONE
Windsor came out flying. Caden Harvey opened the scoring at 4:09 of the first, finishing off feeds from Jakub Fibigr and Ethan Garden to put the Spitfires on the board early. Liam Greentree doubled the lead at 9:34, set up by Anthony Cristoforo and Jack Nesbitt. The Firebirds would respond to make it a 2-1 game. Cole Davis made it 3-1 at 13:47, banking assists to John McLaughlin and Cristoforo.
Flint refused to go quietly, Christopher Thibodeau pulled it to 3-2 at 17:08 to ensure the period ended with some tension still brewing.
FLINT STORMS BACK — AND THEN SOME
The Firebirds came out of the intermission with fire. A double minor high-sticking call on Nathan Villeneuve handed Flint a lengthy power play, and Darian Anderson buried it at 3:02 to tie the game. Windsor’s penalty trouble continued — McLaughlin was whistled for slashing at 9:21, and Flint capitalized on the momentum even without converting on that chance.
Nathan Aspinall — named the game’s third star — took over. The Firebirds captain scored at 15:36 and again at 18:58, his second assisted by Lombardi and Graziano, to give Flint a stunning 5-3 lead heading to the third. The WFCU Centre had gone quiet. Twenty minutes stood between the Firebirds and a series split.
THE SPITFIRES RESPOND — IN STYLE
Any doubt was erased quickly. Harvey — named the game’s second star — was fed a slick pass by Andrew Robinson for a goal at 2:48 of the third to make it 5-4 and breathe life back into the building. The crowd found its voice again. Then Nesbitt, set up by Cristoforo and Conor Walton, tied it at 12:57 and the WFCU Centre absolutely erupted.
What followed was one of those moments that playoff runs are built on. With the clock ticking down to a single minute remaining — 19:00 on the dot — Walton found the back of the net, assisted by Davis and AJ Spellacy, to complete the comeback and send the building into bedlam. Walton, named the game’s first star, had delivered the dagger.
Joey Costanzo was steady all night in the Windsor cage, stopping 22 of 27 shots to earn the win. At the other end, Mason Vaccari took the loss for Flint despite a 25-save effort in 59:13 of work.
UP NEXT
The series now shifts to Flint with the Spitfires holding a 2-0 advantage. Game 3 is set for Dort Financial Center as Windsor looks to tighten their grip on a berth in the next round.
Windsor leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
