Spits comeback comes up short

by Rob Benneian

Two third period goals brought the Windsor Spitfires within striking distance of the Barrie Colts, but they couldn’t complete the comeback falling 4-2 Nov. 29 at the WFCU Centre.

Two markers in a span of 1:33 staked Barrie to a 2-0 lead late in the first period. Colts rookie forward Justin Scott slipped a shot from the bottom of the right circle under Jaroslav Pavelka at 17:06 for his first career OHL goal. Steven Beyers would put them up a pair with an uncontested wrist shot.

Former London Knight Andreas Athanasiou increased the lead to 3-0 in the second period, blowing past Saverio Posa and beating Pavelka with a backhand-to-forehand deke.

Brady Vail made things interesting when he scored Windsor’s first goal. His tenth of the year came while playing shorthanded with 8:30 to go. Adam Bateman’s first of the year came off a point blast at 15:52.

“For us to win, I need to contribute more offensively,” Vail said. “Our third and fourth lines, everyone needs to contribute more for us to start winning games. If our top line is off one night and they’re getting shut down, someone else needs to step up.”

The highlights for Windsor were otherwise limited to a pair of enormous open ice body checks. The first was delivered by the recently-acquired Trevor Murphy on Winnipeg Jets 2011 first round pick Mark Scheifele. The second came when Kerby Rychel flattened Brendan Lemieux with a big open-ice hit.

Rychel then squared off with Dylan Corson, who took exception to the hit.  Lemieux would later fight Spits rookie Ryan Verbeek in a spirited tilt that left the Colts forward gushing blood.

A late delay of game penalty to Barrie’s Erik Bradford afforded Windsor a late power play opportunity but Scheifele scored shorthanded into the empty cage to ice the win.

The loss was Windsor’s eighth in ten games.

“It sucks when something you love is so depressing,” said Spits forward Ty Bilcke. “I’m losing sleep over this. I hate to lose.”
The Spits will hit the road to face the Kitchener Rangers Nov. 30 in a Friday night showdown.