Windsor Spitfires 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 5)

[SpitfireHabs1]

Game of Pond hockey yestaurday. Not much D on both sides for the first two periods. If the game was more lopsided yestaurday I would have assumed a goalie switch would have been made after 6 or 7 goals allowed on Joey but it being 7 to 7 I figure Savard and crew figured he would be our best bet instead of throwing in Michilone who hasn't played since last year in the O and didnt want to risk it. It was a good decision In my opinion as Joey made some solid saves in the third to preserve the Win. Will be interesting to see if they go back to Joey or try our luck with our third stringer against a weaker Gens squad in a 3 in 4 day span. Love the Offence, Love seeing lots of goals on our side, were going to need it come playoffs BUT as I've preached in the past were going to need better team Defense down the stretch here if were going to beat well rounded teams in the playoffs. Excited for another game tonight. Let's let the good times roll tonight!, Keep accumulating points and secure the top spot in the West, hope to see a better defensive effort tonight from everyone and keep scoring lots of goals!!

Go Spitfires Go!!

 

[ohloutsider]

We all get it. The Spits are an exceptional team. Fun to watch. Can out gun any team in the O. What we can't ignore is the defensive woa's. I'm sure coaching staff are not going over O zone entry today. They will be focusing on D zone coverage and exit strategy. What we saw last night is not the norm for this team, but you can't ignore what happened. They will make the adjustments they need to. Better now then the first week of April.

Go Spits Go!!!

 

[OHL 17]

I'd fire the existing coaches and hire the forum coaching fraternity.
They have the NHL background that will get this team back on it's feet!

 

[FiveHoleo]

I'm pretty sure every one of our memorial cup championship teams had games they won like this during their regular seasons too. When you're nitpicking a victory over an alleged eastern conference powerhouse then you're in pretty good shape overall.

 

[rve24]

I'd fire the existing coaches and hire the forum coaching fraternity.
They have the NHL background that will get this team back on it's feet!

That would be a mistake lol.

Esp if you included the self proclaimed forum monitor and authority to coach.

Unlike the apologists when things were bad for a decade I always have stuck to you are what your record says you are. It's results driven business and ya can't argue the success over a 1.5 yr soan. It's been great. GM, coaches n players have had success ( thou someone here once said only Memorial Cups matter not Western conf Champs or OHL titles or div. Titles but I'm glad to see thst thinking has changed and hoalposts shifted),
Things to work on....always with any team and nothing wrong with acknowledging that. As posters have done.
I find there are many great posters who are nuetral n unbiased, and some on both sides of the fence. The pro positive tend to be more biased thou. The "negatrons" as coined by someone tend to be more balanced and do occasionally give credit. Just MO based on posts.

I expect JC #s should trend down a bit if he continues to get the majority of starts unless the group refocused but honestly I'd just look to keep scoring 5 or 6 a game and play to offensive depth.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I'd fire the existing coaches and hire the forum coaching fraternity.
They have the NHL background that will get this team back on it's feet!

Yep Hockeylegend11 is my first choice.

Including the self proclaimed forum monitor and authorities?

I would expect a new goalie as well maybe even with OA eligibility.

 

[OHLTG]

Soooo... Oshawa tonight.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

It wasn't a nice clean win but we'll need the dirty ones too.

Both Saginaw games last week? Pretty Clean W. London game? Pretty Clean W. Erie? Eh. Barrie? Meh.

There will always be days of sloppy hockey in this league. If it comes against bottom feeders and the Eastern Conference, I'm fine with it. A shootout with London or Saginaw would concern me much more than just a one off, run & gun with Barrie.

Michelone needs to get in a game sooner or later if Onuska isn't coming back next week. Giving Costanzo a chance to "rebound" and not sit with the thoughts of 7 goals on 38 shots, I get that too. Either way, another two points on the line tonight.

 

[OHLTG]

It wasn't a nice clean win but we'll need the dirty ones too.

The clean ones are nice but the dirty ones teach you a thing or two. Savard has often talked about "lessons" and that was one.

 

[rve24]

Soooo... Oshawa tonight.

Soooo... Oshawa tonight.

Spits put in a decent effort should be a W.

People posted thoughts on the team. Some responded about hiring them as coaches......unneccessary

 

[OHLTG]

Spits put in a decent effort should be a W.

People posted thoughts on the team. Some responded about hiring them as coaches......unneccessary

The team is doing well so why not focus on that instead of more piling on stupidity? I missed the game last night so am looking forward to game talk tonight.

 

[FiveHoleo]

London lost in humiliating fashion to a non playoff team, so we could put some distance between them with a good outing today in Oshawa. Ottawa lost to Owen Sound as well, so we can also make ground on 1st overall with a victory. Does Harrison have anything left in the tank for the homecoming game?

Also, I think some diapers are full based on some of the noise.

 

[OHLTG]

Since joining the Spitfires...

Harrison - 8 goals and 15 points in 8 games
Holmes - 6 assists in 8 games and is +11
Castle - no points in 7 games
Dionicio - 7 games, 2 goal and 10 assists, +4
Wright - 5 games, 5 goals and 5 assists.

Castle has had mostly third-line duty and is averaging just under one shot a game lower than when he was with NIA. I think he'll be fine once he gets into a scoring role (or at least gets a goal this season).

 

[FiveHoleo]

I don't know about Castle, he doesn't seem to be fitting in as easily as the other additions. He's probably more of a project than a regular contributor, which I guess is fine at the bottom of the lineup. I haven't seen anything out of him yet that makes me think he's going to be a good player, but then again I haven't seen anything that makes me thing he's going to be a bad one either, he's just sort of there for now. I think that Niagara team was a disaster and we're trying to undo a season or two of poor development on this kid.

 

[OHLTG]

I don't know about Castle, he doesn't seem to be fitting in as easily as the other additions. He's probably more of a project than a regular contributor, which I guess is fine at the bottom of the lineup. I haven't seen anything out of him yet that makes me think he's going to be a good player, but then again I haven't seen anything that makes me thing he's going to be a bad one either, he's just sort of there for now. I think that Niagara team was a disaster and we're trying to undo a season or two of poor development on this kid.

The thing about Castle... he was selected right before Abraham in 2020, he had 15G last season, and was on pace for 25-30 this season. I don't know if it's a third line thing, a different role that he's taken, or what exactly, but, yeah, he's not as noticed out there as the others. I'd be interested to see what Savard thinks about his game to this point.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

The clean ones are nice but the dirty ones teach you a thing or two. Savard has often talked about "lessons" and that was one.

Agreed. A sloppy Win is better than a sloppy loss. Their are still lessons to learn, but when the minimum take away is 2 points, as a fan, I’m content.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

I don't know about Castle, he doesn't seem to be fitting in as easily as the other additions. He's probably more of a project than a regular contributor, which I guess is fine at the bottom of the lineup. I haven't seen anything out of him yet that makes me think he's going to be a good player, but then again I haven't seen anything that makes me thing he's going to be a bad one either, he's just sort of there for now. I think that Niagara team was a disaster and we're trying to undo a season or two of poor development on this kid.

I agree about Castle. We have time for him to develop. He was picked high, so there’s several people that did/do see something there. In my small sample of seeing him, I don’t.

I’d always be happy to eat my words on a negative Spits player evaluation but right now, I agree, from the business side of hockey, looks like a project not an asset.

I always wonder what goes into the trade discussions. Wonder if O Flaherty was valued higher and NIA wanted him to move Dionicio? Or if O Flaherty was a swap for Castle to create more depth now because I liked what O Flaherty brought this season more than Castle, so far.

I didn’t expect castle to be an impact player like Harrison or Wright, but I wouldn’t have guessed Dionicio would put up a dozen points in 7 games either.

If you would’ve told me Dionicio and Castle had a combined 12 points thru, 7 I’d say great trade so I’ll take it.

I do worry that Peer is going to drop off if he continues to get slotted with Castle & Smith though.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

I’d love to see Savard give these a roll.

Harrison/Wright/Peer
Greentree/Maillet/Maggio
Christopolous/Spellacy/Smith
Castle/Morneau/Jodoin

Peer & Wright played together when they were younger, Harrison & Wright have chemistry.

Maggio adds a lot to Maillet and Greentree. He’s great on line 1, but Wright and Harrison will produce with or without Maggio.

Christopolous seems to find a way to get his points and breaks with anyone. Huge trait to have. Smith and Christo have some chemistry as well. Spellacy has been far more impressive than Castle the last 7 games too.

Castle, Jodoin, Morneau adds a strong face off guy, some speed and some grit to the 4th line. 4 different types of players but could result in something interesting for whatever is needed.

 

[FiveHoleo]

I do worry that Peer is going to drop off if he continues to get slotted with Castle & Smith though.

Abraham should return at some point and shuffle things a bit anyway. I'm curious what Savard does when that happens.

 

[windsor7]

Joey looks to get the start.
Guess Windsor has nobody else..

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Joey looks to get the start.
Guess Windsor has nobody else..

I mean, he is 15-2 this year.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Joey looks to get the start.
Guess Windsor has nobody else..

Spits not dressed tonight include Sobolev, Peer,Jodoin,Abraham and Onuska.
Add forward Willie Birkett to lineup
Spits dressing 5 and 11 tonight.

 

[Teflon]

Well i guess my plea for smart concise even fan based chat got ignored! Some of you folks should find another hobby!! Part of commenting on a site like this clear well thought out points, yes some of those are negative. This team isnt perfect and yes he D coverage is suspect! If you watch its pretty clear. Why it becomes a name calling, petty argument battle ? It shows a lack of intelligence folks. Come with your points, keep them clear and that's it!

 

[OHLTG]

Not surprised Costanzo gets the start; he didn't play poorly last night and deserves a chance to rebound.

Hopefully Peer/Sobo are nothing serious.

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Not surprised Costanzo gets the start; he didn't play poorly last night and deserves a chance to rebound.

Hopefully Peer/Sobo are nothing serious.

I’m hearing early February on Abraham.

Any one have an idea on Sobolev? Peer out sick.

I figure Jodoin can slide in as 6th D Man Thursday.

Greniero, Birkett, Martin could all pop in and play 4th line.

Are Johnston/McLlwan eligible to be brought back in if we’re down up front longer than tonight?