Windsor Spitfires 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[windsor7]

I was honestly thinking that… but longer. If the third is anything like the first two, best defensive game of the Bowler era IMO. I imagine Guelph coming out hard and getting at least one, seeing how the spits respond to that will tell the tale in this one.

Michelone hasn’t really been tested. A few loose pucks in close but they’re keeping the shots out, and tons of blocked shots. Hope Abraham is good… I can’t deal with Colton on the top line lol

Should never.be on top line..

 

[tomschman]

Who's missing tonight? Lol

Comparing the game summary vs the roster:

Struthers
Castle
Greenwell
Stewart
Christoforo

Christoforo is injured, all other healthy. Struthers and Castle are veterans. Stewart and Greenwell have been spare parts all season.

 

[ohloutsider]

Oh! my!

 

[TheGremlin]

What a difference coaching makes

 

[DetSpitsFan]

I think I watched the wrong game? but whatever the team in the red jerseys were that shutout Guelph tonight played a really good defensive game today.

 

[SPITS4EVER]

What a difference coaching makes

Maybe bowler will take on both roles the rest of the year
coaching and managing

 

[spits]

A defensive masterclass? lmao, sort of. Great structure all game, no one was caught out of position. This improvement was noticeable in the first game after the firing against the Petes. Have now beaten, Petes, 67's, and Storm on the road since last week. If only they had this coaching and structure at the beginning of the season, they would likely have three or four more wins and within range of a playoff spot.

Whatever the coaching staff is implementing, it is clearly working.

Now have five straight home games, many against beatable teams.

 

[SpitfireHabs1]

Nice effort the past two weekends. Might not win every game but there is now more organization out there for the most part and smarter decisions being made behind the bench, players are playing the right way. Shot blocking, playing their positions better and just seems like most players are doing the fundamentals of hockey better and it will result in alot of wins regardless of having the big name superstars. This Team did just that tonight played together as a team and for that logo on the chest and not the name on the back. I was proud watching our guys stick up for each other in scrums and after hits. Also helps getting Reliable goaltending. Michilone was great tonight, wasnt expecting that but he has been looking a bit better his last few games, hopefully it can continue and never know maybe light a fire under Costanzo to pick it up a notch!

Let's see if this effort can be sustainable week after week, game after game. Not expecting much of this season as of now but would like to watch competitive hockey for the remainder of the season. I've overall enjoyed the last 2 weeks of watching this team again. Hope for it to continue.

Go Spits!!

 

[Cherrydon]

The compete for pucks tonight was something I've have been wishing for a long time. Michelone made some fantastic saves when tested. Great game played by everyone . Didn't miss anyone nott playing tonight sad but true.

 

[hockeylegend11]

A defensive masterclass? lmao, sort of. Great structure all game, no one was caught out of position. This improvement was noticeable in the first game after the firing against the Petes. Have now beaten, Petes, 67's, and Storm on the road since last week. If only they had this coaching and structure at the beginning of the season, they would likely have three or four more wins and within range of a playoff spot.

Whatever the coaching staff is implementing, it is clearly working.

Now have five straight home games, many against beatable teams.

Actually have 4 straight home games ,then 1 game at Owen Sound before the Christmas break but your point is well made.
Impressive 3-2 in 5 straight road games spread over the last 2 weeks alot of positive things occurred far more then negative.
Penalty killing prior to the last 5 games under 70% for the season,last 5,13-15 for a rate of 92.3%,PP was under 17% prior to this stretch,3-13,23.90 % last 5,goals against 1st 21 games 5.60 excluding empty netters,last 5 ,2.60 excluding empty netters,take out the 6 against Kingston, only 7 against excluding empty netters 1.75 average against.
In this stretch team showed they can play amongst the best,interesting thought they would have more trouble vs Peterborough, Ottawa and Guelph,then Kingston and Barrie
Certainly sound attention to detail,mostly solid goaltending by both goalies,especially Michelone who overall has been much better on the road then at home,hopefully confidence will help play at home.
Always nice to win a game and your best player Greentree doesn't notch a point Impressive imo.
Still some players struggling offensive wise topic for another day.
Bowler and Torres have to be commended so far in the job and the players have shown drive,perseverance, attention to detail more so then any point this season

 

[OHLTG]

Torres said during the Ottawa trip that him and Bowler gave some new "outside the box" thinking at both ends of the rink. The players have certainly responded. While I know that Bowler is looking for bench help, I'm not against him and Torres sticking together for the time being. The players are strong defensively, they're cashing in with offence, and there's a new confidence about them. I wouldn't go leaving Cristoforo out much longer but it's still a tremendous win overall.

 

[OHLTG]

Last road shutout was last season v. SSM - Costanzo got it. Prior to that, it was 2021-22 in a 7-0 win in Flint. Strangely, Michelone got the loss for the Firebirds.

Michelone's last shutout was in Dec. 2021 at Saginaw. He had a pair in 2019-20 for Kanata U18.

 

[ohloutsider]

Well it looks like we are going to get a belly full of Stan Butler hockey. Protect the house at all costs and only take chances when they present themselves. Allowed 2 goals in Barrie and none last night in Guelph. Hurts on the offense with stats but it keeps them in games and a chance to win.
They basically smothered Guelph last night in the 3rd. I don't think Guelph was ready for that style of game.

I posted yesterday that Spits needed to be at their best and Guelph needed to have an off game for the Spits to have any chance. Seemed to be what happened.

Yes Christoforo missed last night and they played well without him. He has tons of talent so I'm not giving up on him. He now has someone that cares about defense and if he buys in this type of hockey might be best for him. He wasn’t the only one on the team that was just going through the motions. As the teams compete level goes up he will follow I'm sure.

Abraham looked engaged last night along with Smith. Both played much better in their own end. Smith was killing penalties and did not look out of place. As a coach you find that forwards that don't play good D are best put on the PK, they are forced to play better D and it helps round them out.

Michelone 2 good games back to back. Certainly going to force Costanzo to up his game although he also played good in Barrie. Competition in the crease is a good thing.

Also of note there was little to no attempt at the stretch pass last night. That never fits into Stan Butler hockey LOL. We may be seeing the end of Savards offense first hockey? Mind you it is only 2 games but I think if you see this next weekend after a week of practice then your going to see this the rest of the year.

Now there is likely no way this team gets into the playoffs after the hole they have dug, maybe 8th but even that is a stretch. Having said that you never know but here's hoping we will now see competitive hockey for the rest of the year. Carry on.

 

[windsor7]

Windsor with a good win.
Congratulations on the shutout.
Guelph had a lot of offensive zone time. However was mostly on outside often. And the goalie made some huge saves too as there was a lot of shots on net.
Team played a lot better defensively. Wonder who was missing???
Coaching looks to have a good strategy. Just shows how bad Smith hire was Bowler.
Smith doesn't deserve top line minutes coach. Why is that trade not done? Or a few others??
Hopefully they can play like this at home. I'm sure fans would appreciate this over getting killed at home like before.

 

[HockeyPops]

For me it is curious that Castle is a scratch every game now. Is he hurt? You would think he would at the minimum rotate in and out with some of the B players? I'm assuming he will get moved for a bottom pick to a team that just needs a roster filler?

Now I'm confused. Isn't he already there?

 

[ohloutsider]

Now I'm confused. Isn't he already there?

Confused by the question? Already where?

 

[HockeyPops]

On a team that needs a roster filler?

 

[ohloutsider]

On a team that needs a roster filler?

Well not really needed. They have lots of players that can and will take that role. Most younger and maybe better upside.

 

[OHLTG]

On a team that needs a roster filler?

Castle came in the trade with Niagara last season. He was supposed to be a depth guy at the time (given we had Harrison, Wright, Maggio, etc.) and then get an elevated role this season, since he's a former first-rounder. However, something hasn't clicked from the start and he hasn't done much this season. He was injured earlier in November but, for whatever reason, can't get into the lineup now. When he plays, there are tiny flashes of potential but not nearly enough to get him ice time over younger guys.

 

[Cherrydon]

Production dropped since joining the Spits. 13 goals in 30 games last year with Niagara and then only 8 goals past 56 games with the Spits. Has been given the opportunity, not sure what is going on. 43 points as a rookie. Skill was there. Attitude though, no idea.

 

[Savard18]

Now I'm confused. Isn't he already there?

Ha. That’s what I thought. If he can’t get into the lineup on the last place team in the O, who’s giving up assets for him?

 

[OHLTG]

Ha. That’s what I thought. If he can’t get into the lineup on the last place team in the O, who’s giving up assets for him?

It would depend on why he's not getting into the lineup. If I'm an opposing GM, I want to know if he's not motivated, if he wants out, or if there are other factors that the public isn't aware of. I'm not going to look at it and go "he can't make the lineup on a last place team? Pffft... not worth anything." You have to dig deeper to find the root causes.

 

[windsor7]

Production dropped since joining the Spits. 13 goals in 30 games last year with Niagara and then only 8 goals past 56 games with the Spits. Has been given the opportunity, not sure what is going on. 43 points as a rookie. Skill was there. Attitude though, no idea.

Time to cut bait.

It would depend on why he's not getting into the lineup. If I'm an opposing GM, I want to know if he's not motivated, if he wants out, or if there are other factors that the public isn't aware of. I'm not going to look at it and go "he can't make the lineup on a last place team? Pffft... not worth anything." You have to dig deeper to find the root causes.

Most gm not ringing Bowler phone off the hook most likely...

 

[Cherrydon]

I want to compliment Outwater. Watch him closely. He is super hard on the forcheck and is defensively as good. Is a zero after 7 games with the Spits pretty damm good. I think he and Spellacy are going to breakout offensively. Spellacy is so quick he outskates some opportunities but that will come when he adjusts to slow down at key times. Something Peer has adjusted the last year and a half. Also think Nesbitt is coming along. Not bad for a big man adapting to tgat frame. Second half he will excel. Especially if a couple of players are moved and he slots in regularly in the top 6. PP was good with Mancini on the 1st unit and Woodall on the second. Woodall honestly offers everything Cristoforo does offensively and is a better defender. He is much more aggressive getting sticks and body into play out front. His skating is quite good as well.

 

[Petes1987]

Production dropped since joining the Spits. 13 goals in 30 games last year with Niagara and then only 8 goals past 56 games with the Spits. Has been given the opportunity, not sure what is going on. 43 points as a rookie. Skill was there. Attitude though, no idea.

He needs a fresh start with a team like Peterborough. The Petes will likely be trading Owen Beck at the trade deadline and will need offence to replace him. Aidan Castle has offensive potential. Rob Wilson has a track record of turning struggling players careers around. He did with Emmett Sproule and Connor Lockhart.