Spitfires Silence Storm With 3-1 Win

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Homecoming was bittersweet for two former Spitfires. Kerby Rychel and Nick Ebert got to relive the sights and sounds of the WFCU Centre, including family, but that was the extent of it. The Windsor Spitfires fought back late in the third period to overcome the odds. Their rally efforts earned them a deserving 3-1 victory over the Guelph Storm. 

Windsor and Guelph went toe-to-toe in the opening period, feeling out the opponent, trying to get the upper hand. They matched stride for stride, as well as shot for shot. At the end of the first period, the shots were tied at 11, and the score even at zero.

Opportunities began to set in for both teams in the second period. Windsor was getting the better of the chances with back-to-back power-plays. Unfortunately, the Spits couldn’t put the puck past Justin Nichols. Guelph had its own man-advantage, but it was killed off. As the clock ticked closer to zero, the Storm managed to take control. 36 seconds were left when former Spitfire Steven Trojanovic’s slap shot went straight in. A flustered group of players went to the locker room down by one to the visiting Storm.

The goal deflated a hard-working Windsor team at the end of the second, but the third period was fresh. The Spits had ample time to get the equalizer. They fought for the tying goal, but the Storm stood their ground. With 6281 screaming fans behind them, they kept pressing. Although it took a little over 52 minutes, the Spitfires finally got the puck behind Nichols. Thanks to a fortunate mishap with a Guelph defender, Nikita Yazkov was able to skate in with the puck. After his shot was stopped, Trevor Murphy tried to score on the rebound, but he was stopped as well. Sam Povorozniouk found the puck beside the net and sent it off the goalie, into the net. Ben John, later, put the Spits ahead of the Storm after flying behind the defenders and beating Nichols with a high forehand shot. In the last minute, Guelph looked to tie the game, but Windsor’s defense was a solid wall. It never quit on the play. Eventually, Murphy got the puck and flipped it down the ice to the empty net. The Spitfires held on for a comeback win over the Guelph Storm by a score of 3-1.

Windsor faces another tough Western Conference team – the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – next Thursday, February 6^th at 7:05pm, at the WFCU Centre.