Rangers Capitalize Early, Build Insurmountable Lead

Kitchener wasted little time making their presence felt, converting on two of their three power play opportunities in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Dylan Edwards opened the scoring at 12:34 with Sam O'Reilly and Jack Pridham adding assists, before O'Reilly potted one of his own at 13:47, with Pridham picking up his second helper of the frame. Windsor was held off the scoresheet despite generating chances, as Christian Kirsch turned aside all seven first-period shots he faced.

The Rangers kept their foot on the gas in the second, with goals from Andrew MacNiel and Campbell pushing the lead to 4-0. Joey Costanzo made 16 saves in the middle frame.

Spitfires Refuse to Quit

To their credit, Windsor came out flying in the third period and made things interesting. Nathan Villeneuve got the Spitfires on the board at 1:45, assisted by Jakub Fibigr, before Anthony Cristoforo made it 4-2 at 5:23 off a pretty setup from John McLaughlin and Liam Greentree. Caden Harvey rounded out the Windsor comeback attempt with a goal at 18:33, assisted by Alex Pharand and Beksultan Makysh.

But the Rangers answered every push. Luca Romano snuffed the momentum with a shorthanded marker at 12:59, and Gabriel Chiarot added an empty-net shorthanded goal at 17:04 to seal it.

By The Numbers

Kirsch was steady all night for Kitchener, stopping 25 of 28 shots to earn the win. Costanzo took the loss for Windsor, finishing with 22 saves. Romano was named first star, O'Reilly second, and McLaughlin earned third star honours for Windsor.

The announced attendance at the WFCU Centre was 5,398.

Series Summary: Kitchener Rangers lead Windsor Spitfires 3-1. Game 5 moves to Kitchener on Friday night.

WINDSOR, Ont. — The Windsor Spitfires wasted no time making a statement in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, downing the Kitchener Rangers 4-2 at the WFCU Centre before an announced crowd of 5,041.

Cole Davis and Andrew Robinson were named the first and third stars of the game, respectively, as Windsor struck early to cut the series to 2-1.

The Spitfires opened the scoring just 1:55 into the first period on the power play, with Jakub Fibigr converting off assists from Anthony Cristoforo and Liam Greentree. Alex Pharand doubled the lead at 14:07, tipping home a feed from Caden Harvey to give Windsor a 2-1 edge heading into the first intermission — Kitchener's Christian Humphreys had briefly cut the deficit to one at 16:08 on a goal assisted by Jack Pridham and Cameron Arquette.

The Rangers were unable to crack Joey Costanzo in the second period despite generating offensive chances, and Windsor came out of the middle frame still ahead by one.

The Spitfires put it away early in the third. Robinson struck just 24 seconds into the period, finishing off a Davis setup to push the lead to 3-1. Kitchener's Arquette pulled one back at 15:01 on a goal from Chiarot and Campbell, but Davis iced it with an empty-netter at 19:31 — his second point of the night — to seal the 4-2 final.

Costanzo was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 21 of 23 shots faced to earn the win. Christian Kirsch took the loss in goal for Kitchener, making 14 saves before being pulled for the extra attacker late in regulation.

Windsor was 1-for-5 on the power play; Kitchener went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Arquette was named the second star for Kitchener.

Game 4 of the series happens Wednesday back at the WFCU Centre

Liam Greentree gave Windsor an early lead, beating Christian Kirsch at 6:51 of the first period. The Spitfires carried that 1-0 advantage into the first intermission, but the Rangers outshot the Spitfires 9-6 through twenty minutes.

Kitchener flipped the script in the second. Sam O”Reilly evened things up on the power play at 7:03, finishing off a sequence set up by Jack Pridham and Dylan Edwards. Less than two minutes later, the Rangers completed the momentum swing with a shorthanded tally. O’Reilly turned provider this time, teaming with Pridham on a 2-on-1 chance that converted at 9:00 to put Kitchener in front for good.

Kirsch was steady the rest of the way, turning aside all 10 Windsor shots in the third to finish with 27 saves and earn the victory. Joey Costanzo stopped 20 of 22 shots in a losing effort for the Spitfires.

Windsor went 0-for-4 on the power play while Kitchener cashed on one of three opportunities.

O'Reilly was named first star of the game, Kirsch second, and Greentree third.

Game 3 goes Monday in Windsor. Tickets www.windsorspitfires.com

Kitchener leads the series 2-0.

O'Reilly Ends It in OT

O'Reilly, one of the most dangerous players in the postseason, capped a back-and-forth contest by converting on a Spitfires penalty — Nathan Villeneuve's high-sticking call — to send a crowd of 7,363 home happy. Christian Humphreys and Cameron Reid drew the assists on the winner, as O'Reilly extended his remarkable playoff run to claim first-star honours.

Period-by-Period

The Spitfires drew first blood just 47 seconds in, as Anthony Cristoforo put Windsor ahead with a goal assisted by Carson Woodall and Andrew Robinson. Kitchener answered quickly, though, as Alexander Bilecki tied it at 4:07 with Vermeulen and Anstis assisting, before Dylan Edwards flipped the lead to the Rangers at 7:18 off helpers from Andonovski and Humphreys. The first period ended 2-1 in favour of Kitchener.

Windsor pulled even in the second period on a goal by Villeneuve at 17:13, assisted by Davis, before Jack Nesbitt gave the Spitfires the lead at 15:58. The Rangers knotted it again late in the frame, however, as Jack Pridham converted on the power play at 19:49 — assisted by O'Reilly and Humphreys — to send the game to the third period tied 3-3.

Neither side could find the winner in a scoreless third, setting the stage for overtime.

Between the Pipes

Joey Costanzo turned aside 27 shots in the overtime loss, while Kirsch earned the win for Kitchener with 20 saves. Windsor was held scoreless on its lone power-play opportunity, while the Rangers converted twice on four chances.

Up Next

Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals goes Sunday, April 26 in Kitchener, with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. Kitchener leads the series 1-0.

FLINT, MI. — The Windsor Spitfires are headed to the Western Conference Finals.

With a composed and complete effort, the Spitfires defeated the Flint Firebirds 5-3 in Game 4 on Thursday night, completing the series sweep and punching their ticket to the next round of the OHL Playoffs.

Windsor responds after early Flint push

Flint struck first on home ice, as James Paul opened the scoring midway through the first period.

The Spitfires answered early in the second, as Anthony Cristoforo capitalized on the power play, finishing a setup from Carson Woodall, to even the game at 1-1.

Late in the period, Cole Davis gave Windsor its first lead of the night, burying a feed from John McLaughlin to send the Spitfires into the intermission up 2-1.

Spitfires take control in the third

Windsor carried that momentum into the third period, extending the lead just under four minutes in. Carson Woodall finished off a strong play from Cole Davis to make it 3-1.

Flint pushed back midway through the frame, as Nathan Aspinall struck twice, including a power play goal, to cut into the Windsor lead and keep the Firebirds within striking distance.

Fibigr delivers, Nesbitt seals it

The Spitfires responded when it mattered most.

Jakub Fibigr netted the eventual game-winning goal at 12:25 of the third period, finishing a play set up by John McLaughlin and Caden Harvey to restore a two-goal cushion.

Despite Flint continuing to press late, Windsor stayed composed defensively before Jack Nesbitt iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute, sealing the 5-3 victory.

On to the Western Conference Finals

With the win, Windsor completes the four-game sweep of Flint and advances to the Western Conference Finals.

The Spitfires will now await the winner between the Kitchener Rangers and Soo Greyhounds as they continue their push toward an OHL championship.

FLINT, MI. — The Windsor Spitfires are one win away from advancing to the next round of the OHL playoffs.

Riding a stout defensive effort and timely goaltending from Joey Costanzo, Windsor downed the Flint Firebirds 2-1 Monday night at the Dort Financial Center to take a 3-0 stranglehold on their second-round series.

Anthony Cristoforo opened the scoring at 3:32 of the first period, redirecting a feed from Nathan Villeneuve to give the Spitfires an early lead they would not relinquish. Windsor doubled its advantage midway through the second when Ethan Garden buried his marker at 4:27, assisted by Alex Pharand and John McLaughlin.

Flint got one back 1:56 into the third on a goal from Alex Kostov, set up by Luka Graziano and Jacob Battaglia, but that would be as close as the Firebirds would get. Costanzo was sharp throughout, turning aside 18 saves in the final frame alone and finishing with 26 stops on the night to earn the win.

At the other end, Flint netminder Mason Vaccari — a first star despite the defeat — made 25 saves before being pulled late in the third after the Firebirds drew a too-many-men penalty. Windsor did not convert on the ensuing power play, but Costanzo and the Spitfires defence slammed the door.

AJ Spellacy was named second star for Windsor.

The Firebirds held a 4-1 advantage in power play opportunities on the night but went scoreless, while Windsor also failed to convert on their lone man advantage. Windsor was assessed eight penalty minutes to Flint's two.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Spitfires carry their 3-0 series lead back home to Windsor for Game 4 tomorrow night. Windsor can complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the next round with a victory.

Windsor leads series 3-0

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.