History Repeats Itself As Spitfires Lose 3-1
Friday September 27th, 2013, 7:43am
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Déjà-vu in Windsor. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Spitfires, especially so early in the season. After their comeback efforts were halted last week, the team wanted to bounce back. A solid Sarnia goaltender would say otherwise. Windsor fired 49 total shots toward Taylor Dupuis, beating him only once. As a result, the Spitfires suffered their second straight loss Thursday night, being defeated 3-1 by the Sarnia Sting.
The Spitfires flew faster, beating the Sting to loose pucks. They skated stronger, shoving them off to gain control. Sarnia, though, had the right opportunities, and got on the board first. Joshua Chapman sent a pass off the boards and down the ice to a speedy Bryan Moore. He picked up the puck and battled the defender before beating goalie Jordan DeKort low glove side. The Spits held their own for the rest of the first period, holding the Sting to just one goal and three shots.
The game hadn’t changed much from the first, going into the second. Windsor played hard, but Sarnia still managed to outperform the Spitfires squad. A little more than three minutes in, with the Sting entering the zone, DeKort hugged the post against Jordan Addesi’s short-side shot. Even so, the puck made its way past the pads to give the opposition a two-goal lead. Not long after, the Sting scored a third goal. Earning his second point of the night, Moore set up a tic-tac-toe passing play. From the side boards, he sent a pass to the corner to Nikita Korostelev who, in return, sent the puck out front to Nickolas Latta. He had no problem putting it behind DeKort.
Following the third goal, Windsor opted for a goalie change that saw Dalen Kuchmey enter the game for the first time this season.
The shot clock gave Windsor a commanding advantage: 14-3 at the end of one, 33-17 after two. However, the clocked that mattered showed the Spitfires down by three with a period to go.
Kuchmey stood tall against the Sting. At one time, he made a save and unknowingly set up a rebound opportunity. He was quick to react, kept his composure and also his team in the game. The Spitfires retaliated with another plethora of shots throughout the period, hoping for one. They got close when the puck trickled through the crease, behind Taylor Dupuis, but it did not cross the line. At least, not until got late in the period. Brady Vail threw a cross-ice pass Slater Koekkoek, who missed the end of last season due to injury. He got his first of the season with a high, swift wrist-shot. By putting the puck in the net, he brought the Spits within a pair.
Was it too little, too late? Yes.
The Sting fought off the Spitfires for the last three and a half minutes, and held on for a 3-1 win.
The Spitfires’ next home game is this Saturday, September 28th, when the Erie Otters visit the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05pm.