Spits weekend recap

by Evan Mathias and Rob Benneian

The Windsor Spitfires have found their groove.
This weekend the Spitfires won all three of their games and claimed a crucial six points in their hunt for the playoffs.
The Windsor Spitfires managed to hold on for the 2-1 on Jan. 17 win over the Mississauga Steelheads at the WFCU Centre.
An evenly matched first period saw good scoring opportunities for both teams. Spits forward Sam Studnicka opened the scoring with a quick snap shot from the top of the left circle that beat Steelhead goalie Tyson Teichmann’s glove.
“I’m just trying to produce, help the team out and create energy. That’s my role here,” said Studnicka.
The goal seemed to deflate Mississauga for the remainder of the period, which was apparent to Spits defenceman Adam Bateman.
“It was nice to get the first one, get the momentum going,” said Bateman. “Mississauga seemed to be a little bit flat after that, then the period ended and they seemed to get their confidence back up and it was a battle.”
Alexander Khokhlachev scored his fourth goal in as many games since returning to the Spits. His goal early in the second period gave the Spits a two goal lead and turned out to be the eventual game winner.
“Great win for the team, as a coach you want to score more goals and not be in as many close games but I’m not going to complain at this point,” said Spits head coach Bob Boughner.
Mid-way through the second period, Spits goalie Jaroslav Pavelka made a huge kick save and while falling back snagged the rebound out of the air before the puck crossed the goal line.
“Pav made the saves he had to make tonight, he’s been one of our best players,” said Boughner.
Steelheads forward Sam Babintsev broke up Pavelka’s shutout late in the third period when his shot trickled past the Spits goaltender.
The following night the Spits headed to London to take on the Knights. The Spits dominated play throughout the game and came out with a 5-2 win.
The Spitfires then battled the Sarnia Sting in front of their second largest crowd of the year.
A raucous mob of 6,838 hockey fans saw the Spitfires overcome three two-goal deficits before Remy Giftopoulos gave Windsor its first lead of the night. His seventeenth of the season and second as a Spitfire proved to be the game-winner and capped a scoring spree of three Windsor goals in just over five minutes.
The Spits have scored 10 goals in their last two games, victories against the Ontario Hockey League Western Conference’s two division leaders.
“I’m really proud of the team. I think that was probably the most exciting game I’ve played in the OHL,” said rookie forward Josh Ho-Sang, whose third period goal tied the game at four goals apiece. “It was back and forth, we kept chasing and I think we had five different celebrations when I scored.”
The Spitfires were again paced offensively by the players they acquired prior to the trade deadline. In addition to the goal from Giftopoulos, acquired from Ottawa Jan. 8, Alex Aleardi had a goal and an assist while Alex Khokhlachev had three points. The Spitfires have won five of six since the deadline, with the lone loss coming in a shootout against the stingy Belleville Bulls.
“Our top two lines can skate with anybody now,” said Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel. “Alex Aleardi can back guys off with speed, Koko has been that much better. We’re doing great things. It’s promising.”
The win puts the Spitfires two points back of the Saginaw Spirit with one fewer game played.
Windsor will host the Plymouth Whalers Jan. 24, who shut them out 3-0 at Compuware Arena in their last match-up.