2 days Ago By Jim Parker, Windsor Star
Article content It’s the roller-coaster ride you might expect at this point of the exhibition season. The Windsor Spitfires have now won all three exhibition games after rallying from a three-goal deficit in the second period for a wild 7-6 shootout win on the road over the Sarnia Sting. “I love the tenacity and grit,” said Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters, who was without several regulars due to NHL camps.
“There was no give up in coming back and to win is a good feeling.” Tuesday’s win featured a 10-round shootout that was finally settled on a nifty move by six-foot-six, 226-pound defenceman Tanner Winegard, who is known more for his physical play and did not record a goal in 53 games for the Spitfires last season. “Tanner was Casey Torres’ pick,” Walters said of the Spitfires’ assistant coach.
“That was an extremely nice move. He does have a great shot.” For a club that finished last in the Western Conference last season, Walters, who is in his first season, is happy to grab the win to boost team confidence and especially with several regulars out of the lineup.
“Obviously, we had nine (regular) guys out of the lineup and it was a good evaluating having guys playing in spots they maybe wouldn’t normally,” Walters said. “That way, we get an evaluation.” Overager Noah Morneau scored a pair of goals for the Spitfires.
Rookie first overall pick Ethan Belchetz had a goal and an assist along with Jack Nesbitt, who was the club’s first-round pick last year. Nathan Gaymes and Ethan Martin scored single goals for Windsor while overager Ryan Abraham picked up three assists and rookie defenceman Adrian Manzo picked up a pair of assists that saw the Sting take 38 of the game’s 56 penalty minutes. Nesbitt and rookie Ethan Garden also scored in the shootout before Winegard’s winner in the 10th round.
Goalie Joey Costanzo stopped 21-of-26 shots through two periods. Carter Froggett stopped five-of-six shots in the third period and eight-of-10 shots in the shootout. “There are still (roster) spots to be made,” Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler said.
“The more reps these players get, the more viewings we get, so it’s all good.” The club did learn that the Chicago Blackhawks have returned overage defenceman Tnias Mathurin to the club while goalie Michael Newlove has been assigned to the junior A Georgetown Raiders. Windsor will close out exhibition play with two home games where the club will reach out into the community.
The Spitfires play the Flint Firebirds at the Vollmer Complex in LaSalle on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. The club closes out exhibition play on Saturday at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore against the Niagara IceDogs at 7:05 p.
m. “After Thursday and Saturday, things will start to unfold,” Bowler said. The club should also have a clearer picture of who could be back in time for Windsor’s Sept.
25 season opener in Saginaw. “You never know how long guys will stay (in NHL camps), but it’s important for their development to go through this at this stage of their career,” Walters said. “We’ll just continue to work on things and wait for guys to return before any real decisions are made.
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