Ok, some thoughts...
- This was the response they needed. Yes, it's a lower-placed team but Sarnia gives you fits every time so this was the chance to make a statement.
- A quick start was important and you can't get much quicker than two in the opening 2:30 and three in the opening nine.
- Last game, they couldn't put two passes together and looked sloppy at both ends. Tonight, they were crisp, they were clean, and they were able to move the puck efficiently. You see plays like stick lifts, reading Sting passes, getting into the lanes, and that's how you win.
- A few garbage goals; that's the grinding they need to do.
- Costanzo looked solid overall. The PP goals; the first one was too much room defensively, the second was Cristoforo missing the block. No issue with the effort but a foot to his left and you're blocking that.
- At the other end, Maillet looked good and maybe kept it from being 10.
- Nine Spitfires with a point, four having multi-point games. Greentree with three helpers, but Morneau, Belchetz, and Abraham are big. Protas with some good chances and picks up an A.
- I've seen the Belchetz slew-foot now. I can see how it would be called that; the guy gets hit and looks to fall back. Maybe the leg goes further than it should and/or the arm goes back a bit. It looks more like a hit and momentum from the size difference. I know Belchetz had the look of "me? really?" when he was initially called. I can see it being a game or two, maybe.
- The France hit on Protas didn't look horrible but serious props to Greentree for standing up for him right away. France is a tough kid. Not the biggest but seems to have a pitbull-esque mentality to him. I don't necessarily want to go into the Marco Caprara comparision but... that direction, at least.
- The Davis stuff happened really fast near me. The next thing I know, two Sting are on him (Young and Beamish) and a third (Hurt) is standing above as the play goes behind the goal. Kennedy ran in to help out, as did Spellacy, so props to both of them. Hurt grabbed Kennedy after Kennedy came in, and Spellacy then grabbed Filak.
- They did a draw for PWHL tickets. Maybe I'm alone in this but, while I love the contests, having the draw off camera doesn't seem to be as... thrilling. It got very little reaction from the crowd. Maybe there's a better way to do it?
- With the win, plus Saginaw loss, puts Windsor back to 19 points ahead of the Spirit. Windsor has 18 left, Saginaw 19. The win also puts Windsor 35 points up OS, who's in ninth. Windsor's playoff magic number is now "4". OS is at home to NB tomorrow. So... Spitfires could clinch, in theory.
- Also worth noting - I just looked and this is the first Fri/Sat back-to-back home games since at least 1997-98.