Spitfires Fall in Close Encounter to Spirit 5-4
WINDSOR, ON.
The Spitfires have been on a skid as of late, losing their last three games. The red-hot Spirit were in town for a heated affair. The Spitfires lost 11-3 the last time these two teams faced each other. Tonight was a lot closer game but the Spitfires ended up on the wrong side of a 5-4 decision.
In the first period, it was quite a different game than the run and gun offence we were use to seeing. Both teams had a powerplay opportunity but came up empty. Late in the period, the teams were skating 4 on 4 when the games first goal was scored. With just over 12 seconds left in the frame, Bloom would stick lift the puck off the Spitfires and feed Beck in front who scored. After twenty minutes, the Spirit were up 1-0 on the scoreboard; meanwhile the Spitfires had an 8-7 shot advantage.
In the second period, it was all Spitfires. A 2 on 1 with Davis and Abraham created a rebound and Davis would score his 13th on the season to tie the game at 1-1. Just over two minutes later, a horrible turnover by the Spirit would right on the stick of Smith and he roofed it with a wicked shot for his 7th of the year. Seven minutes later, the Spitfires would strike again for a third unanswered goal. Smith fed Zhugin in front of the net and he chipped it over Oke and into the net, it was Zhugin’s 17th of the season. After forty minutes the Spitfires had a 22-14 shot advantage.
In the third period, it was the opposite of the second as the Spirit took over the game. Less than a minute into the period, a point shot from Donovan found the back of the net threw a crowd and it was a 3-2 game. The Spitfires were able to respond less than 7 minutes later. Woodall made a nice feed to Zhugin and he scored his 2nd of the night to extend the Spitfires lead to 4-2. Twenty-two seconds later, the Spirit responded and made it 4-3. They would add two more goals and take this by a score of 5-4. The Spitfires were outshot 20-5 in the final period.
The Spitfires are back in action on Saturday when the Peterborough Petes come to town. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm.
