Spitfires run cold
The sizzling start has become a distant memory for the Windsor Spitfires.
With eight wins and 17 points in their first 12 games, the Spitfires were sitting atop the Western Conference standings just two weeks ago.
After a 5-1 loss to the Owen Sound Attack Sunday before 2,482 at the J.D. McArthur Arena, the Spitfires are now riding a season-high, six-game losing streak and are making a rapid slide down the standings.
I guess it's frustration, Spits captain Adrian Robertson said. It's my last year and I don't want it to be a losing season. At some point, we have to stop the bleeding. That's the focus now and that comes from not thinking, but just going out and playing.
The numbers during that slide have not been pretty for Windsor. Sunday was the third time in those six losses that Windsor has been held to a single goal.
;We have no secondary scoring right now,Spitfires associate coach Bob Jones said. That's someplace we have to get some goals.
Windsor has allowed 30 goals over that stretch while scoring 11 and the team's power play hasn't helped matteslide bearingrs by scoring just once in the last 21 chances.
We're just not generating a lot, Jones said.
It was a strong start for the Spitfires Sunday with an 18-6 advantage and a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes on a goal by Robertson.
We played a really good first period and I think everyone thought that we would be playing in our zone, Spits forward Tom Kuhnhackl said.
It could have been better had the Spitfires been able to convert on any of their three power-play chances in the period.
It's not like we don't have chances. Kuhnhackl said.
We get chances, but we don't get the dirty goals.
It's not like we bring it in, shoot and have two guys in front trying to get it.
We try to make the pretty play.
Owen Sound made it even midway through the second period when Artur Gavrus turned Spitfire defenceman Craig Duininck inside out and beat Jack Campbell to tie the game.
It's frustrating, Jones said. That's a one-on-one drill we work on with our defencemen and Craig got beat.
Less than two minutes later, Campbell was unable to control Jay Gilbert's point shot and Jarrod Maidens knocked home the loose puck to put the Attack up 2-1 after 40 minutes.
If (the opposition) happens to get a goal, it seems like they get two or three quick and we can't stop the bleeding and that's what good teams do,Robertson said.
Windsor had a great chance to tie things on the first shift of the third period, but Kuhnhackl, Alex Khokhlachev, Nick Czinder and Robertson could not put home chances for the equalizer.
It's like there's a wall (in the net), Kuhnhackl said.
Khokhlachev was stopped on a partial breakaway and then fanned on a puck sitting on the goal line that would have tied the game.
It's just paying attention to the little details and bearing down in front of the net, Jones said.
Maidens got his second goal with less than seven minutes to play to give the Attack some breathing room and a couple of frustration penalties by Windsor allowed Owen Sound to finish up with power-play goals by Cameron Brace and Joseph Blandisi.
The Spitfires are off until Thursday when the Barrie Colts come to the WFCU Centre.
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