Spitfires unsuccessful against Knights in playoffs

by Evan Mathias

For the third consecutive year the Windsor Spitfires were unable to win an Ontario Hockey League playoff game.

The London Knights swept Windsor four games to none in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series March 27. The same team that handed Windsor the same fate two seasons ago. The Spitfires failed to qualify for the playoffs last season.

In the fourth and final game of the series, the Spitfires were defeated by a final score of 4-3.

Early in the game Windsor looked to have their defensive zone locked down, surrendering few shots to the Knights potent offence.

Mid-way through the opening frame, Knights defenceman Brady Austin opened the scoring beating goaltender Alex Fotinos right off a faceoff.

Third-year forward Ben Johnson knotted things up at one goal a piece for the Spitfires just 13 seconds into the middle stanza.

Windsor also got goals from forwards Ryan Foss and Sam Povorozniouk.

Vancouver Canucks prospect Bo Horvat sealed the series for London with the game winner at 12:58 of the third period.

“That was our best game of the series and obviously that wasn’t good enough,” said Spitfires’ head coach Bob Boughner.

London ran away with the series through the first three games outscoring the Spitfires 16-6.

“I wish we had seen that team play earlier in the series and it just wasn’t in the cards for us early in the series,” said Boughner. “They’re a real good team and I’m a little disappointed we didn’t make it a series, I think if we could have played the way we played tonight we probably could have.”

Spitfires alternate captain Brady Vail agreed with Boughner, that maybe the series could have panned out a bit differently if they were more competitive in the first three games of the series against the Knights.

“The way we played the first three games is not how we wanted things to go,” said Vail. “If anything we regret not keeping those first three games tighter, maybe wear them down a bit.”

Vail said it has been frustrating not being able to win a playoff game for three consecutive years. The last time the 19-year-old won a playoff game was his first year in the OHL, four seasons ago.

“It’s very frustrating, my first year here I didn’t play a whole lot but to gain that experience and see what it’s like to win a playoff series is definitely something that I remembered and tried to pass on to the guys,” said Vail. “Two years ago with London being the number one seed, that was probably their strongest team the last three years and then us being outmanned this year with injuries and trades it was a tough season.”

Throughout the final two games of the series Fotinos was forced to play through illness, something he said he had to do to make sure he didn’t let his team down.

“I was (puking) in the room, it was pretty tough to battle. By the third period I had next to no energy left but I wasn’t going to leave the team out to dry,” said Fotinos. “I know that they needed me and I know that they wanted a chance to win as much as they could so I knew I had to suck it up for one more game and give it my all.”

Fotinos was forced to come in relief of goalie Dalen Kuchmey in the middle of game three when the rookie goaltender pulled himself off the ice, took his equipment off and went home.

Despite being swept by London, Boughner said he believes there are positives to build on in years to come.

“I really like the young core that we’ve built and we’re looking to add to that at the draft (OHL Priority Selection),” said Boughner. “I think the young guys like (Aaron) Luchuk, (Ryan) Moore, (Andrew) Burns and (Liam) Murray playing big minutes in a playoff game against one of the better teams in the league I think that can only help. It’s a good positive sign for us.”