Windsor Spitfires 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[windsor7]

Windsor got the win. Which is what matters.
Got goals from 2 unlikely people.
Pp was awful
Passing needs to improve. Making 2 or 3 passes in a row seems difficult.
Too many passengers.

 

[Cherrydon]

I am not so sure it is a lack of effort as much as poor decisions and too much individual play. 5 on 5 we cannot sustain a forecheck and hold the offensive zone for any time. One and done plays off the rush and that's about it. The PP struggles for the same reasons. The forwards are standing still and should have their feet moving and try and create a opening. Skating with speed to the opposition blueline and dropping it back to your own blue line makes no sense. The forwards are standing at the blue line waiting to be onside and then pucked is dumped in or carried in by 1 and the other players are late to get deep. Need to enter the zone with all legs moving and get behind their players to gain the zone and create an odd man advantage that the PP affords you.

 

[ohloutsider]

I am not so sure it is a lack of effort as much as poor decisions and too much individual play. 5 on 5 we cannot sustain a forecheck and hold the offensive zone for any time. One and done plays off the rush and that's about it. The PP struggles for the same reasons. The forwards are standing still and should have their feet moving and try and create a opening. Skating with speed to the opposition blueline and dropping it back to your own blue line makes no sense. The forwards are standing at the blue line waiting to be onside and then pucked is dumped in or carried in by 1 and the other players are late to get deep. Need to enter the zone with all legs moving and get behind their players to gain the zone and create an odd man advantage that the PP affords you.

The drop/ladder play is fine if you mix it in with other zone entries. It's when you become too predictable that is when problems arise.
The 5 on 3 last night ( although only 30 secs) drove me crazy! Not even 1 attempt at a shot. You have a guy parked in front of the net but can do nothing because there is no puck being sent into the scrum. Exhibit A - Christforo's goal. Just put pucks on net already! Rant over, be safe.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Spits now 3-1-1 in their last 5 games played,3 of them on the road,I will take that considering trouble scoring lately NB game not withstanding, though allowing aside from the Sudbury game 9 goals in that one,only 7 in the other 4 outings,and only 4 goals allowed 5 on 5 in those 4 games.
Last night other then noted struggles on the PP thought Windsor played well most of the night not many gold chances by a tough Barrie team,Costanzo not busy except times in the 3rd.
You know things are going good when 7 or your 8 top scoring forwards don't register a point on the night and u still win.
Game night in Kitchener should be interesting, expecting both Parsons and Costanzo to get the starts,Kitchener will have revenge on their minds after getting dubbed 12-2 in the game at Windsor early in the season,and Parsons lasted 1 period,allowing 5.
Right now Parsons is #1 in the league with a 2.27 Ave and .919 save percentage, while Costanzo is #2 with a 2.30 average and a .920 save percentage, Joey is 13-4-1,while Parsons is 12-4-1 with 1 less game played.
If I am Windsor I am dressing Winegard and Gaymes while sitting Hicks and Manzo, not punishment but the fact there were 6 fights in the last game between these 2 so I would be prepared.
Go Spits Go.

 

[windsor7]

Spits now 3-1-1 in their last 5 games played,3 of them on the road,I will take that considering trouble scoring lately NB game not withstanding, though allowing aside from the Sudbury game 9 goals in that one,only 7 in the other 4 outings,and only 4 goals allowed 5 on 5 in those 4 games.
Last night other then noted struggles on the PP thought Windsor played well most of the night not many gold chances by a tough Barrie team,Costanzo not busy except times in the 3rd.
You know things are going good when 7 or your 8 top scoring forwards don't register a point on the night and u still win.
Game night in Kitchener should be interesting, expecting both Parsons and Costanzo to get the starts,Kitchener will have revenge on their minds after getting dubbed 12-2 in the game at Windsor early in the season,and Parsons lasted 1 period,allowing 5.
Right now Parsons is #1 in the league with a 2.27 Ave and .919 save percentage, while Costanzo is #2 with a 2.30 average and a .920 save percentage, Joey is 13-4-1,while Parsons is 12-4-1 with 1 less game played.
If I am Windsor I am dressing Winegard and Gaymes while sitting Hicks and Manzo, not punishment but the fact there were 6 fights in the last game between these 2 so I would be prepared.
Go Spits Go.

Isn't gaymes at the fight limit?
He be suspended if he fights again?

 

[DetSpitsFan]

Spits now 3-1-1 in their last 5 games played,3 of them on the road,I will take that considering trouble scoring lately NB game not withstanding, though allowing aside from the Sudbury game 9 goals in that one,only 7 in the other 4 outings,and only 4 goals allowed 5 on 5 in those 4 games.
Last night other then noted struggles on the PP thought Windsor played well most of the night not many gold chances by a tough Barrie team,Costanzo not busy except times in the 3rd.
You know things are going good when 7 or your 8 top scoring forwards don't register a point on the night and u still win.
Game night in Kitchener should be interesting, expecting both Parsons and Costanzo to get the starts,Kitchener will have revenge on their minds after getting dubbed 12-2 in the game at Windsor early in the season,and Parsons lasted 1 period,allowing 5.
Right now Parsons is #1 in the league with a 2.27 Ave and .919 save percentage, while Costanzo is #2 with a 2.30 average and a .920 save percentage, Joey is 13-4-1,while Parsons is 12-4-1 with 1 less game played.
If I am Windsor I am dressing Winegard and Gaymes while sitting Hicks and Manzo, not punishment but the fact there were 6 fights in the last game between these 2 so I would be prepared.
Go Spits Go.

Didn’t realize how similar the goalie stats were and tk be honest, I’m not always up to date on the eastern conference. Didn’t realize Ottawa was so low, Froggett tomorrow for sure.

I agree, you put in those guys willing to mix it up tonight and play physical hockey. I wouldn’t swap Martin out after yesterday, plus he’s willing to go.

As long as we have a healthy team, I have no issues going the Jodoin route of , “oh they’re at 3 fights? Who cares. If they gotta go, go, they can sit the next one no big deal”.

It’s such a different game when the Spits come out of the gate hitting. I’m sure that’s chalked off as some silly old school mentality, but last nights the example. They came out making hits (nothing devastating but still), took an early lead and dominated shots on goal and forced Barrie to take dumb penalties.

By the third that buzz had wore off, Barrie needed to come back and the game changed a bit, but defense and goaltending stood strong.

In a world of the game of hockey becoming more soft… making clean hits regularly throws opponents off their game.

 

[Teflon]

Guys im mostly referring to the 3rd last night as to the D. Were you all there? They left a player open numerous times at the weak side. We couldnt move bodies when needed and did a lot of stick checking in our zone. That can’t continue.

 

[OHLTG]

The 5 on 3 last night ( although only 30 secs) drove me crazy! Not even 1 attempt at a shot. You have a guy parked in front of the net but can do nothing because there is no puck being sent into the scrum. Exhibit A - Christforo's goal. Just put pucks on net already! Rant over, be safe.

That was one of the things that Walters was talking about after the game, the power play. They struggled, everyone knew it, and changes are being made. Like he said, throw it at the net, bang it home.

 

[Cherrydon]

Guys im mostly referring to the 3rd last night as to the D. Were you all there? They left a player open numerous times at the weak side. We couldnt move bodies when needed and did a lot of stick checking in our zone. That can’t continue.

Absolutely correct. The forwards came back deeper than in recent games but the D themselves in front no improvement. Cristoforo leads team in plus minus at +26. Awesome stat but condider that he was +22 first 11 games and +4 last 10. Still a plus. Woodall minus 4 first 11 games and -4 last 10 games. Consistent. The 6 worst for plys/minus on the team are 24,77,89,91,93,5. 4 D. Can't have that. I give Garden rookie and maybe less inexperienced Manzo a slight break. SLIGHT. The other 4 not so much. I'd consider moving all the D except Hicks & Walton for next year. Outwater is not making strides. The only OA potential is Costanzo.

 

[SpitfireHabs1]

Was nice to see the boys come out on the winning side of a close defensive tilt. Definitely some improvements needed but some positives as well, Joey has been solid for this team & hope he gets the nod again today in a big western conference game at the Aud, always a tough battle versus the Rangers especially with the good season they have been having thus far.

As mentioned above, going to be a tough opponent tonight and going to need this team to have a solid defensive game like last night with some more scoring i would think to get pull out a Win. As i said yesterday there are some players that you can just feel are itching to break out offensively but gotta play within Walters Defense first style gameplan and play team first hockey, personal accolades will follow.

Go Spitfires!!

 

[hockeylegend11]

No lineup changes tonight players dressed wise.
Starting in goal Carter Froggett.
Not dressed Winegard, Gaymes,Garden.

 

[Teflon]

Thats an odd decision imho. But hes the coach. Time will tell.

 

[Cherrydon]

Maybe coach figures starting Froggett will make the team not rely on great goaltending by Joey to save them.

 

[ohloutsider]

Maybe coach figures starting Froggett will make the team not rely on great goaltending by Joey to save them.

Or he is good at reading tea leaves.

 

[Section 103]

Maybe coach figures starting Froggett will make the team not rely on great goaltending by Joey to save them.

You make a good point there, but I still would have dressed Gaymes…..definitely more upside to him over Winegard. His speed and forecheck would be nice to have tonight.

 

[OHLTG]

This is either going to be really good... or really bad. Hopefully Froggett's on his game; we know he has it in him.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Absolutely correct. The forwards came back deeper than in recent games but the D themselves in front no improvement. Cristoforo leads team in plus minus at +26. Awesome stat but condider that he was +22 first 11 games and +4 last 10. Still a plus. Woodall minus 4 first 11 games and -4 last 10 games. Consistent. The 6 worst for plys/minus on the team are 24,77,89,91,93,5. 4 D. Can't have that. I give Garden rookie and maybe less inexperienced Manzo a slight break. SLIGHT. The other 4 not so much. I'd consider moving all the D except Hicks & Walton for next year. Outwater is not making strides. The only OA potential is Costanzo.

Last night was a nice win. A low event game for the most part and that's fine. It's their best path to victory but the hardest part is convincing those skilled players that's the way. Froggett in tonight should be a good test of this. Noticed Sarnia got a BCHL guy. Would be nice if Windsor got a gift.

 

[Cherrydon]

I assume BCHL undrafred by a OHL team from OHL zone can sign as a free agent? I also assume that players selected in priority draft but went to BCHL would be still be property of said OHL team if player is on their 50 man protected list? Wonder how much Bowler is looking abroad with the NCAA rule change?? He should be

 

[DetSpitsFan]

You make a good point there, but I still would have dressed Gaymes…..definitely more upside to him over Winegard. His speed and forecheck would be nice to have tonight.

Gaymes over Winegard for sure. I think I would’ve taken out Manzo or Hicks tonight for Gaymes, and run 12 F/6 D. Seems that we’re frequently going 7th D over 4 full forward lines. Are Manzo/Hicks more valuable than Gaymes? Sure, but I think running 11F and double shifting a top 6 guy with em, throws things a little out of whack

 

[DetSpitsFan]

This is either going to be really good... or really bad. Hopefully Froggett's on his game; we know he has it in him.

I would’ve rolled Joey tonight for sure. However it has been a while since Froggett got a start. Saw him in relief vs the Wolves.

I feel the stakes here are way higher than tomorrow’s game. Pressures on Froggett, good test in a game I don’t think most of us expect us to win (in the Aud, vs a Top 2 Western team, coming off a tough loss to London, seeking revenge for 12-2)