Spitfires, Flint split a set
Home ice did not favour the Windsor Spitfires or Flint Firebirds as the Ontario Hockey League foes scored road victories over one another on the weekend.
The split of the home and home set kept the 30-10-6 Spitfires and the 31-12-4 Firebirds tied for first place in the OHL’s Western Conference with 66 points each — and just two points up on the surging Kitchener Rangers.
Kitchener has two games in hand on Flint and has played one fewer match than Windsor.
Flint 4, Windsor 2. The Firebirds rallied from a goal down in the third period to upend the Spitfires before a crowd of 5,071 at the WFCU Center in Windsor. Alex Kostov paced the Firebirds with a pair of goals, giving him 23 on the season, and Mason Vaccari made 26 saves. Anthony Cristoforo and Ethan Belchetz, with his 29th goal of the season, replied for the Spitfires who wore their alternative retro jerseys for the first time this season. Spitfires head coach Greg Walters was critical of his team’s performance, particularly of a sputtering power play, which produced only one goal on five chances and surrendered a short handed tally to Flint.
Windsor 4, Flint 1. Joey Costanzo made 29 saves for his 23rd win of the season to backstop the Spitfires to a much needed road conquest before 4,313 fans at the Dort Financial Centre in Flint. Captain Liam Greentree and defenseman Jacob Fibigr both had one goal, one assist outings for the Spitfires. Greentree’s goal came with Windsor short handed. It was the 20th goal of the season — in just 31 games — for Greentree.
Spitfires’ centre Nathan Villeneuve looks for a pass in front of Flint goalie Mason Vaccari at the Dort Financial Center. (photo by Natalie Shaver)