Windsor Spitfires 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[ohloutsider]

Windsor hands down has the worst TV coverage of any team in the OHL!! ....Just my opinion

Watched it later last night and ya the camera work was bad but tbh I watch it all the time and it is not usually that bad. I'm assuming someone new on the camera maybe because it was family day?

A few thoughts...

- First, well done by the Spitfires to have a Family Day ceremony with the billets, along with "forever 18" scrolling across the jumbotron during it. That's an appropriate passing of the torch, if you will.
- Owen Sound isn't a bad team and, if George is on his game, you're in for a tough night.
- Fortunately, the Spitfires' D came to play and Costanzo was dynamite. The one goal was more on the forwards not taking Leonard, but one mistake isn't that big of a deal.
- Windsor kept the OS forwards to the outside for the most part. The Attack had a few chances inside and Costanzo did his thing.
- Great goal by Lemieux; nice pass from Eichler and it's in. Greentree with a beauty five-hole; kind of appropriate that the captain scores a big goal on in this game.
- Protas into the EN. His 37th of the season. He needs three more to become the Spitfires' all-time single-season Import leader for goals. Kuhnhackl had 39 back in the day.
- Cristoforo now has a career high in points and +/-. He and Greentree are 1/2 in the league for that.
- Greentree needs eight points for 100!
- It would be really nice if Gaymes could stop stirring up thing that don't need it. I like his physical side but, man, minor penalty after minor penalty doesn't make sense.
- I'll always appreciate Greentree's enthusiasm while defending teammates to officials.
- Sarnia, Flint, Saginaw - road Fri, road Sat, home Sun. Busy weekend coming up before the always-fun eastern swing.
- Now 16 points up on Saginaw with 14 games left each. I still don't think it'll be easy as Saginaw's on a roll but get the points and keep going. If the Spirit win out, the Spitfires need 13 points in 14 games to take the division.
- Sounds like Abraham is hopeful for Friday with an upper body (nothing specified). I don't know much about Costello or Mathurin; hoping the best on both.

They need 12 points. A tie goes to Windsor with a stronger ROW.

 

[OHLTG]

Watched it later last night and ya the camera work was bad but tbh I watch it all the time and it is not usually that bad. I'm assuming someone new on the camera maybe because it was family day?

Yeah, they're volunteers and I know some are newer, so things like this are going to happen from time-to-time.

They need 12 points. A tie goes to Windsor with a stronger ROW.

Touche.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

My comment had nothing to do with any scoring drying up or how good/bad Saginaw has played. We know they've played well with Parekh, Misa, and Chernyshov leading the way (along with Oke). We know Windsor had a few games where they struggled. But that wasn't where the conversation was going here. It was simply that it doesn't matter what you do against a lower-seeded team, you're not in a position to "win" with some. If you beat them, you're supposed to so meh. If you lose, how do you lose to a lower-seeded team, (insert analysis here).

DC was pointing out prior you're not learning much from the team in these games. Regardless of the result he isn't wrong. You're not going to learn much about this team over these next 15. There are many players that need to step to get ready for the playoffs.

 

[Teflon]

I disagree, you do learn from these games. Who can focus when thats a tough ask, who is willing to hone their craft just a bit more, who can put the fact nothing matters other than winning out of their head, who is willing to still do the little things that keep you sharp…. Number 1 should also be, who will give me 60 min of hockey!!! This team has struggled with that all year!

 

[hockeylegend11]

I disagree, you do learn from these games. Who can focus when thats a tough ask, who is willing to hone their craft just a bit more, who can put the fact nothing matters other than winning out of their head, who is willing to still do the little things that keep you sharp…. Number 1 should also be, who will give me 60 min of hockey!!! This team has struggled with that all year!

I would disagree about struggling all year re 60 min of hockey,last 5 games have only allowed 10 goals,a 4-0-0-1 record,have outscored the opposition 16-4,5 on 5 in the same stretch.
Also after 54 games so far the Spits have allowed 2 or less goals in a game 25 times,last year in 68 games it happened 6 times,yes 6 times,and it should 5 of the 8 D on this year's team played here last year ,Christoforo, Woodall, Eichler, and Walton, all regulars,plus Winegard.
I think going from 19th last year to top 2 or 3 this year has been an amazing accomplishment so far plus continuing to finish in the top 10 in Canada for months compared to last year the bottom 10.
Have things been perfect of course not but the overall improvement including effort should not be ignored or dismissed, right now so one of the most improved teams in Canada not just the O.

 

[OHLTG]

The team has had an issue all season with playing a full 60. They've admitted that starting games has been tough for them and, at the time, they didn't have a solution. The Flint, London, and Saginaw games during the homestand show that it's still happening, to an extent. Fortunately, the last four home games have been much better, but they still have to do that on the road. They didn't in Saginaw but now have a chance against Sarnia and Flint over the next two days.

This is definitely one of the most improved teams in Canada. I'd have to look up actual standings to figure out where they rank; don't know it off the top of my head. With that being said, they know there are flaws and that's a step.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

I disagree, you do learn from these games. Who can focus when thats a tough ask, who is willing to hone their craft just a bit more, who can put the fact nothing matters other than winning out of their head, who is willing to still do the little things that keep you sharp…. Number 1 should also be, who will give me 60 min of hockey!!! This team has struggled with that all year!

I would agree with that. I think the better term is drawing too much from things because the stakes aren't high. If we are to look at players that have struggled lately. We kind of get an idea of what they are. Spellacy has been around 2.5 yrs, Abraham 3.5, McNamara only 12 or so games but 3.5 years total. Players cam change the script but there's a body of work with them we can draw from. Zebras don't change their stripes.

 

[Teflon]

HL theres no way you can dispute they havent played 60 min most nights. Cmon! Are they significantly improved? Sure. Your comparisons are missing the mark yet again. Your stats are not indicative of my comment. Hell just ask any player or coach and they will tell you its an issue. Ill go one step further. That 60 min stat could be a major issue in tge playoffs if it continues.

 

[Cherrydon]

Who we face in the playoffs is completely unknown at this stage. 6-10 is only separated by 8 points with some teams a couple of games in hand amongst that group. Likely the teams who squeak in will be playing welll to do so. Even 1st round opponent should not be overlooked or underestimated. Start the games on time and get the PP back up where it should be with the guns we have.

 

[OHLTG]

There won't be a single "easy out" anywhere in the W. Any team can give you trouble and Windsor has to remember 2022-23. This team is arguably more cohesive than that group was but you still have to treat everyone like they're a top seed.

 

[ohloutsider]

There won't be a single "easy out" anywhere in the W. Any team can give you trouble and Windsor has to remember 2022-23. This team is arguably more cohesive than that group was but you still have to treat everyone like they're a top seed.

I watched the Owen Sound/Barrie game last night and if Windsor played with the same tenacity as Owen Sound did last night the Spits would be impossible to beat.
they need to find their playoff mojo now. Other teams are already playing desperation hockey and Spits don't seem to have themselves in that mode yet.
This is one of those weekends where lackluster play will find them in trouble or do they start to play with more determination and show us they really wants this? I'm hoping for the latter.
Saginaw wants 2nd place. Are the Spits determined enough to keep it? 12 points is the magic number. Be safe.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Game day

Windsor at Sarnia, 1st of 3 in 2-1/2 days.
Expecting Ryan Abraham back in the lineup according to sources,don't know about Mathurin.
Spits on a nice roll undefeated in 5,4-0-1 in that stretch including 2 wins vs Sarnia, have outscored the opposition 16-4 in those 5 games when teams are 5 on 5.
Only messages improve the special teams both of them,though they are top 5 on the PK and don't take the Sting lightly, play like they did the last 2 times these teams met when they won 7-2 and 8-2.

 

[hockeylegend11]

Spits after 54 games are 38-12-3-1-80 pts.
1st 27 games 19-6-2-40 points
Last 27 games 19-6-1-1-40 points
GF 1st 27 games-115
GF-next 27 games-121
GA-1st 27 games- 73 plus 5 empty netters
GA- next 27 games-85 plus 3 empty netters
Special Teams
1st 27 games were 4th on the PP and 5th on the PP
Now 27 games later 8th on the PP and 5th on the PK.
Need to pick it up on the PP.