It’s a window the Windsor Spitfires do not want to leave open.

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It’s a window the Windsor Spitfires do not want to leave open.

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Until Thursday, the Spitfires had done a solid job of shutting down the Flint Firebirds in winning all four meetings this season.

Not only is that key against a division rival, as Windsor looks for its third West Division title in four years, but also against a team the Spitfires could face in the playoffs.

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“We talked about that before the game that we could end up facing these guys and we want to play a lot better,” Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters said.

That wasn’t the case as the Firebirds frustrated the Spitfires to earn a 5-1 win before 4,555 at the WFCU Centre.

“We knew coming in this could be a playoff match,” Spitfires’ forward A.J. Spellacy said.  “Obviously, they work hard and they’re a pretty good team. In the playoffs, we can’t play like that.

“We’ve got to be more physical, play faster and to our strengths. I think we’re the biggest and fastest team in the league and we didn’t play like that and that’s why we lost.”

Flint Firebirds' forward Connor Clattenburg, left, collides with Windsor Spitfires' defenceman Wyatt Kennedy during Thursday's game at the WFCU Cenre.
Flint Firebirds’ forward Connor Clattenburg, left, collides with Windsor Spitfires’ defenceman Wyatt Kennedy during Thursday’s game at the WFCU Cenre. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Despite sitting sixth in the conference, the Firebirds actually got a little older at the trade deadline adding veteran forward Sam McCue, who had three goals on Thursday.

“That’s an older team, they made a bunch of trades, heavy (defence) back there and (goalie Nathan) Day can win the game,” Walters said. “We just weren’t very good.”

Even after opening the scoring on an Anthony Cristoforo power-play goal, the Spitfires knew they weren’t playing great hockey.

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“I just think, from the start, our execution wasn’t great,” Cristoforo said. “Usually, when we’re at our best, we play fast and that wasn’t really the case. Kind of an off night for us, which is unacceptable.”

McCue got the Firebirds even with a goal in the final minute of the first period as he converted on a two-on-one to tie the game at 1-1.

Flint then took a 3-1 lead after two periods on power-play goals by Nathan Aspinall and McCue.

Flint Firebirds' forward Matthew Wang, left, and Windsor Spitfires' forward Luke McNamara battle for the puck on Thursday.
Flint Firebirds’ forward Matthew Wang, left, and Windsor Spitfires’ forward Luke McNamara battle for the puck on Thursday. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

“You have to give them credit,” Cristoforo said. “They played a good game, but it was a lot of our mistakes. I feel like we made some little brain errors that we don’t usually do. We know we have to do better.”

The Spitfires picked up their play in the third period, but Day stood tall with a 30-save performance. Ryan Fellinger scored an empty-net goal and McCue completed his hat-trick effort in the final minute of play.

“We weren’t great by any means,” said Walters, whose team lost for just the third time in regulation in 22 home games this season. “We didn’t generate enough. Credit to them, but I thought we played slow. We didn’t block enough shots and we need our secondary scoring. (Ilya) Protas and (Liam) Greentree, we can’t rely on them to get three or four points a night.”

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Protas assisted on Cristoforo’s goal, but Spellacy said more players have to pick up their offensive game.

“Personally, I could be better at this,” said Spellacy, who has one goal in his last 14 games. “Since Christmas, I haven’t really put the puck in the net. I could do a big job helping in that aspect and if we have a couple more guys finishing and scoring goal, we can go far.”

The No. 6-ranked Spitfires are back in action on Sunday against the London Knights, who are the No. 1-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. Game time at the WFCU Centre is 7 p.m.

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Game Summary

Thursday Result

Firebirds 5 Spitfires 1

Flint 1 2 2 – 5

Windsor 1 0 0 – 1

First period: 1. Windsor, Cristoforo 11 (Protas) 6:42 (pp), 2. Flint, McCue 23 (Thibodeau, Mania) 19:27. Penalties: Wang F (hooking) 5:32, Greentree W (tripping) 11:11, Smith F (roughing), Abraham W (roughing) 20:00.

Second period: 3. Flint, Aspinall 13 (Mania, Lombardi) 4:48 (pp), 4. Flint, McCue 24 (Podrekar, Pitre) 13:18 (pp). Penalties: Protas W (interference) 3:12, Belchetz W (roughing) 10:11, Greentree W (tripping) 12:00, Colosimo F (high sticking) 15:04, Wang F (tripping) 19:17.

Third period: 5. Flint, Fellinger 2 (unassisted) 17:46 (en), 6. Flint, McCue 25 (Thibodeau, Lombardi 19:14. Penalties: Pitre F (cross checking), Cristoforo W (diving) 12:54, Wang F (slashing) 19:55, Frolov F (delay of game) 20:00. 

Game stats – SOG – Flint 10 8 13 – 31 Windsor 8 10 13 – 31 Goal (shots-saves) – Flint: Day (W,18-16-2-2) (31-30). Windsor: Froggett (L,4-3-1-0) (30-26). Power play (goals-chances) – Flint 2-4. Windsor 1-4. Referees: Nicholas Bet and Jason Faist. Linesmen: Dalton Kipp and Brandon Shaw. Att.: 4,555 at the WFCU Centre.

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