It was the type of game Owen Sound Attack Head Coach Scott Wray was looking for, just not the result.
AJ Spellacy’s goal 17 seconds into the third period stood as the game-winner as the Windsor Spitfires beat the Owen Sound Attack 3-1 in Ontario Hockey League action Wednesday night at WFCU Centre.
Cole Davis and Anthony Cristoforo also scored for the Spitfires (18-5-2-1), which won its second straight game.
Landon Jackman had the lone goal for the Attack (15-10-0-2), which fell to 2-7-0-1 against West Division opponents this season.
It was a tight-checking affair with sound defensive zone work from both teams – just a couple of moments that ended up costing the Attack.
“It was just two mistakes. Our kids played hard. It was a tight game. There was not a lot of room out there, especially for our top line,” Attack Head Coach Scott Wray says. “You’ve got to hand it to both teams playing a good game. It was a good hard fought game.”
The Attack head coach credited his team for playing the type of structured, checking game he’s looking for.
“You saw guys doing thing we saw last Saturday against Ottawa. They were coming back to the house, protecting the house. And when they were throwing pucks into the slot we were there to protect it and go the other way,” Wray says. “It was just two mistakes.”
The first one came late in the second period with the Attack leading 1-0 and on a power play. Davis forced a turnover near centre ice and skated in a short-handed breakaway, pulling a move in tight and then putting a low backhand past the left pad of Carter George. With 1:34 remaining in the second, Windsor had its first goal of the game – tying it 1-1.
Then just 17 seconds into the third, Spellacy broke up the right wing with speed, took a pass, and then drove the net. He managed to poke a low backhand past George to give the Spitfires a 2-1 lead.
Those were the two moments. Cristoforo would add an empty-netter to make it 3-1 Windsor.
Jackman’s goal in the first period was his third of his rookie season with the Attack. He found a loose puck near the crease and quickly popped it low past Joey Costanzo just over fives minutes into the game.
Costanzo made 25 saves in the win, while George stopped 23 taking the loss. Shots were 26-26. The Attack went 0 for 3 on the power play and allowed a short-handed goal against. Windsor was 0 for 2.
The Attack will try to earn a split when they close out their season series with the Spitfires on Saturday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. It’s a 4 p.m start.
CRAWFORD, ROYSTON RETURN
The Attack welcomed back a couple of forwards to the lineup in Windsor Wednesday. Jake Crawford returned after missing the past seven games with a leg injury. And Wesley Royston was back after missing the past two games, due to a suspension.
FIRST GOAL FURY
The Owen Sound Attack scored the first goal in Windsor Wednesday, the eighth straight game Owen Sound has managed that. However, the run of good starts for Owen Sound hasn’t necessarily translated into wins. The Attack are 3-4-0-1 in their past eight, all games where they managed to strike first.