Windsor Spitfires 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[TheGremlin]

You are taking it personally, and you are not even playing. Imaging how players that do play, and have free access to all negative comments of themselves on social media, feel. They have coaches, parents and friends in their circle to deal with their errors, they don't need the public to remind them of what they already know. Costanzo's stats says he is fourth in the league among goalies. He got there even though he made some mistakes in some games. Give him some credit, he needs everyone's encouragement from his own fans. I am a Knights fan, have been since the late 70s, but I am first and foremost a hockey fan first, and will defend any player on social media from any team, including Windsor players. The least we can do is wait until they turn pros, there will be enough time for criticisms at that level. Let them learn the game first before jumping all over them. I am now moving on from this topic. Cheers !

Edit: changed my mind. You aren’t worth my time.

 

[rve24]

Noticed the ref gave JC a little time to recover from so.ething before a faceoff in their end. No idea what it was about but he gave the stripes a nod for giving him a moment. Hopefully short term

 

[RayzorIsDull]

One of the reasons i harp for better D is goaltending is very average here. Theyve been better with a real coach this year but still not guys who will steal games. London has 2 of them. You can certainly win with these guys but you gotta help them out and goalies MUST be on their game. One of the reasons i think london excels is the goalies, its a definite advantage.
You now know what your up against, its up to the team to put a strategy together to deal with them. Imho if we see them in the playoffs i play them like Kitchener played us that first round debacle a few years back. The goalie position to me is still in transition they all would be getting used and the best guys would play.

In the explaining of goals the London names mentioned OReilly, Barkey, Montgomery. It's almost like asking non NHL drafted players to hold down NHL drafted players for 60 minutes is a huge ask. Especially when your own NHL picks weren't your best players. All depends on what your goals are. You just want to compete or actually win. The two are completely separate entities.

 

[Teflon]

If joeys hurt rest him. We supposedly have lots of goalies. Lets give them a look. Were real big but still play soft, alot! I can guarantee you if you put the body, on the nasty side to london they will retaliate. That leads to PP’s. It will also have them looking over their shoulders and thats a huge advantage. But that has to be coached and encouraged. This is where Walters earns his pay. Time to settle on some steady line combos and get the boys using their size. A nasty team is very hard to play against!!!

 

[tomschman]

If joeys hurt rest him. We supposedly have lots of goalies. Lets give them a look. Were real big but still play soft, alot! I can guarantee you if you put the body, on the nasty side to london they will retaliate. That leads to PP’s. It will also have them looking over their shoulders and thats a huge advantage. But that has to be coached and encouraged. This is where Walters earns his pay. Time to settle on some steady line combos and get the boys using their size. A nasty team is very hard to play against!!!

They have the luxury of having a 20-point lead with 28 games left in the season. If Joey isn't 100%, don't play him. Let him heal properly. It also gives the other Goalies a chance to prove themselves.

The next 28 games are to get ready for the playoffs and next year.

 

[purple pharrt]

Best clean hit of the night wasn't delivered by a Windsor player, but rather Sim of the Knights. Initially, he was sent to the penalty box and 5 minute major posted, while the play was reviewed by both referees. End result : No Penalty, Clean hard hit......play on

During such reviews, the sound guys should consider playing that tune by Olivia Newton-John " Let's get Physical "

 

[RayzorIsDull]

They have the luxury of having a 20-point lead with 28 games left in the season. If Joey isn't 100%, don't play him. Let him heal properly. It also gives the other Goalies a chance to prove themselves.

The next 28 games are to get ready for the playoffs and next year.

I agree with this. That's why games like yesterday are red letter games. You can try to point to others ones but there really aren't any that can impact both teams in the conference.

 

[OHLTG]

There are games you should win that you don't. There are games you should lose that you don't. Windsor's had both this season and last night was probably one that they should/could have won but didn't. Offensive blocks, defensive miscues, and a goaltender who's only human; it adds up. Dust off, get ready for tonight, and remember that if you beat London at home in each meeting... you'll be .500 at worse against them this season.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

There are games you should win that you don't. There are games you should lose that you don't. Windsor's had both this season and last night was probably one that they should/could have won but didn't. Offensive blocks, defensive miscues, and a goaltender who's only human; it adds up. Dust off, get ready for tonight, and remember that if you beat London at home in each meeting... you'll be .500 at worse against them this season.

Both games in London pretty much had the same tenor.

Game 1 tied end of 2. London scores 3 goals in 3:30 to break it open lose 4-2

Game 2 Down 2-1 end of 2 give up 3 goals less than 3 minutes.

If they want to beat them either cut down the goals against or get more goals. In the 3 games they have scored 6 goals total.

I know none of this resonates with you though.

 

[OHLTG]

Both games in London pretty much had the same tenor.

Game 1 tied end of 2. London scores 3 goals in 3:30 to break it open lose 4-2

Game 2 Down 2-1 end of 2 give up 3 goals less than 3 minutes.

If they want to beat them either cut down the goals against or get more goals. In the 3 games they have scored 6 goals total.

I know none of this resonates with you though.

See, you can have this discussion without that last comment. It's pointless.

I know what they've done in London; two solid periods each game, then find a way to lose in the third. That's frustrating, no question. They were in both games and, if they played a full 60 like that, the have a legit chance to come away with two points. What I'm saying is they also got two points in Windsor back in December. If you can find a way to win your games on home ice against London, yes, losing in London will be frustrating, but you'd be even with them for the season. That's not a bad accomplishment.

 

[rve24]

There are games you should win that you don't. There are games you should lose that you don't. Windsor's had both this season and last night was probably one that they should/could have won but didn't. Offensive blocks, defensive miscues, and a goaltender who's only human; it adds up. Dust off, get ready for tonight, and remember that if you beat London at home in each meeting... you'll be .500 at worse against them this season.

Windsor should not have won last night. They didn't do enough. Could have won, sure if breaks all fell their way. But....
Windsors chances were a result of soft, unforced turnovers by LK players thru the 1st 2 periods nore often than them dictating and forcing those chances. I expected more esp since LK was so bad early ( unforced TOs ) .
Windsor did a very good job limiting quality chances early and kudos for that. Kept LK outside and limited chances. LK had no pressure offensively and Ill credit Windsor gor that. But they didn't really force play or have sustained pressure offensively as a result of high pressure, physical play or speed. Their chances were a result of opportunistic situations and the 1st half PP advantages ( not ref complaining here LK earned them) LK gave them and they got decent chances from them but other than Portras(?) And Spellacy they didn't force n create many chances from their pressure. They are skilled and it showed. But in the long run you want to impose your will n style on another team and dictate pace, style ect...Not hope for gifts I didn't see that yesterday. Are they capable of that.....I think so as I feel if they play faster, hard on pucks, force TOs instead of them gifted, play heavier they will be more successful in the POs. I'm not saying LK would walk over them but as Teflon n others have stated they need to impose their will on teams to have a shot.
LK will erase those unforced TOs. Then it'll be up to Windsor to create their own. They have the horses to do so. Spellacy is one for sure. Impressive size on the F group but they got to use it to grind good teams down. Right now LK plays harder n faster on a consistent basis. Those are things that a staff n players can control n will be the difference cause both F groups have skill.
LK adv is easily the D skill overall. A D which helps clear their zone and adds to offense.
So Windsor needs to cotrol the narrative/game in another way and last night they didn't. JMO

 

[rve24]

See, you can have this discussion without that last comment. It's pointless.

I know what they've done in London; two solid periods each game, then find a way to lose in the third. That's frustrating, no question. They were in both games and, if they played a full 60 like that, the have a legit chance to come away with two points. What I'm saying is they also got two points in Windsor back in December. If you can find a way to win your games on home ice against London, yes, losing in London will be frustrating, but you'd be even with them for the season. That's not a bad accomplishment.

Roster context for the 2 games in Dec?