Spitfires Stay Alive In Game Four

Could we be watching history in the making?

With their backs against the wall, the Windsor Spitfires showed why they’re the defending Memorial Cup champions, squeaking out a 7-5 victory over the resilient Kitchener Rangers.

The Rangers – who were down 4-1 after two periods – started the comeback early on in the third, with Matt Tipoff scoring just 2:05 into the period.

The onslaught continued, with Jeff Skinner potting his second of the game – and 18th of the post-season, followed by Jason Akeson’s eighth of the playoffs only twenty seconds later.

After trading goals, it was Windsor’s star player Taylor Hall who put the Spitfires on top for good, snapping a shot over the blocker of Ranger’s goalie Brandon Maxwell with two minutes left in the game.

“You never count him out,” said head coach Bob Boughner.  “I actually thought – and I think Taylor would agree with me – that he struggled for a couple of periods.  But when the game is on the line, you wouldn’t want to have anybody better out there than number four.”

Defenseman Ryan Ellis, who had four assists in the game, believed that their game four win was more about doing the little things that help you win hockey games.

“Their team was diving in front [of pucks], taking them off the shoulder or the stomach just to help their goalie out,” he said.  “I think the little things are huge in each game and I think that’s what was missing.  We needed to step up and that’s what we did tonight.”

Kitchener GM/Coach Steve Spott pointed to the Hall goal as the backbreaker in the game.

“We competed, we battled and gave ourselves a chance to get back in the hockey game,” he said.  “Unfortunately, we had a late turnover and didn’t get the puck in deep.  They got the puck in the right player’s hands and he closed out the game.”

Scott Timmins, Zack Kassian (2), Greg Nemisz, and Adam Henrique (2) also scored for Windsor.  Chris Mackinnon had the fifth goal for the Rangers.

Spitfires’ goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 of 29 shots, while Maxwell stopped 35 of 41 shots.

Game five goes Thursday in Windsor.