Windsor forces overtime, beats Sarnia to end skid
Gaudreau stops 60 of 65 shots but it’s still not enough as Windsor pulls out 5-4 win
SARNIA The Windsor Spitfires faced off Friday against the only team in the OHL’S Western Conference with a losing streak longer than their own.
Sarnia Sting rookie netminder Ben Gaudreau did everything he could to extend the Spitfires’ skid.
Gaudreau was spectacular in a 60-save performance, but the Spitfires rallied for a 5-4 overtime win in front of 2,771 fans at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
“It was a great performance,” Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski said. “He’s obviously a star in the making. What can you say? … Obviously a ton of shots on him and pretty high-quality chances.
“He just looked solid. He takes up the bottom of the net. He’s just a big guy that competed hard tonight and made it real tough on us.”
Curtis Douglas knocked in his own rebound 1:11 into overtime to end the Spitfires’ season-high four-game losing streak.
“As the game went on, we were starting to push them a bit,” Letowski said. “We found a way. We’ve been able to do that all year. Just in these tight games, find a way to come out on the right end.”
It was their third straight non-regulation win in Sarnia.
“We’ve had a tough time in this building,” Letowski said. “They’ve played us hard. It’s tough. I know they’re struggling to get points right now, but I think it’s a pretty good hockey team over there.”
The Sting have lost nine in a row and 18 of 19 games.
The Spitfires led 1-0 after the first period on Tyler Angle’s goal at 9:10.
Sean Josling replied for the Sting in the second period at 2:11 with his team-leading 30th goal.
Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jamieson Rees returned to the Sting’s lineup after serving a sixgame suspension and quickly made an impact.
His breakaway short-handed goal put the Sting ahead 2-1 in the third period at 3:02.
Rees crashed into Spitfires goalie Xavier Medina while scoring. Medina had to leave the game and was replaced by Kari Piiroinen.
Four seconds after the Spitfires’ power play expired, they drew even on Connor Corcoran’s wrist shot from the left circle at 4:08.
The Spitfires were soon on the power play again when Eric Hjorth received a double minor for high-sticking.
Cole Purboo banged in a rebound for the apparent go-ahead goal at 5:59, but it was waved off after a long review.
The Spitfires had a two-man advantage when Corcoran took a pass from Angle and rifled a one-timer from the left circle past Gaudreau at 7:04 for a 3-2 lead.
Then it was the Sting’s turn to come back with two goals in a span of 35 seconds.
Ryan Roth struck first from the slot at 9:52.
Brayden Guy put the Sting ahead 4-3 at 10:27 while being knocked to the ice.
His off-balance, seeing-eye shot from the left circle slipped between Piiroinen’s right pad and the post.
The Spitfires knotted the score again on their 60th shot. Purboo jumped on a loose puck in front of Gaudreau and buried it for a 4-4 tie.
It was a great performance. (Gaudreau) is obviously a star in the making. What can you say?