Ethan Garden’s power play goal in the second period stood up as the game-winner, as the Windsor Spitfires hung on to beat the Owen Sound Attack 3-2 in Ontario Hockey League action Saturday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
Andrew Robinson and Liam Greentree also scored for Windsor (19-6-2-1), which won three out of four in the season series with the Attack.
Wesley Royston and Nick Sykora had the goals for Owen Sound (15-11-0-2). The Attack dropped their third in a row.
It was tied 1-1 after one. Windsor found a pair of goals in the second.
Robinson gave the Spitfires a 2-1 lead just over five minutes into the period. And it came moments after he was involved in a controversial play in the neutral zone. With the Attack on a penalty kill, Cole Zurawski put the puck around Robinson on the right board and looked like he was off to the races on a shorthanded breakaway. But the Spitfires defenceman clung on, and both him and Zurawski went down to the ice. No penalty call — 2,600 fans inside the Bayshore loudly disagreed.
Soon after the Spitfires were in the offensive zone, and it was a point shot by Robinson that snuck through traffic and past Carter George to make it 2-1.
Garden scored on the power play later in the second to extend Windsor’s lead to 3-1.
The Attack climbed within one goal with 3:28 remaining in the third. It was a delayed penalty against Windsor and the Attack were working 6-on-5 — Sykora timed up a passed from Bedkowski and ripped a one-time shot from the top of the circle past Joey Costanzo to cut the Spitfires’ lead to 3-2.
A few penalty calls later, and the Attack back on the power play — 4-on-3 — George went to the bench for an extra attacker and Owen Sound went to work on 5-on-3 inside the final two minutes. They had chances — one shot by Harry Nansi looked like it caught the nob of the goaltender’s stick, but stayed out.
The Attack couldn’t tie it.
Costanzo made 24 saves in the win, while George stopped 23 taking the loss. Shots were 26-26. The Attack went 0 for 5 on the power play; Windsor finished 1 for 6.
Next up for the Attack is a home game Sunday afternoon against Kingston. It’s a 2 p.m start inside the Bayshore.