The big line has been delivering big time.

Article content

The big line has been delivering big time.

Article content

Article content

With the trio of Noah Morneau, Liam Greentree and Ilya Protas leading the way, the Windsor Spitfires posted another dominating win over Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Saturday.

For the second game in a row, the trio accounted for four goals and 10 points in a 7-1 win over the seventh-seeded Greyhounds before a crowd of 5,640 at the WFCU Centre. The second-seeded Spitfires now lead the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final series 2-0 with the series shifting to Sault Ste. Marie on Monday for Game 3.

Article content

“We’ll come out ready to play in Game 3,” Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters said. “I don’t have any doubt in our team.”

For the second game in a row on Saturday, the Spitfires had a 2-0 lead before the Greyhounds had even registered a shot on goal.

Morneau got things started with a power-play goal just over two minutes into the game and rookie defenceman Carter Hicks jumped into the rush and took a feed from fellow rookie Ethan Garden to make it 2-0 just 40 seconds later.

“I think we were awesome,” Garden said of the club’s performance. “Everyone in the lineup seemed to be going hard, making plays. If everyone’s going, I think we can go up against anyone.”

A two-man power play enabled the Greyhounds to pulled to within a goal with Owen Allard tipping a shot in. Sault Ste. Marie had a golden chance to tie the game before the end of the period. Marco Mignosa, who led the Greyhounds in goals and points during the regular season, split the defence and was pulled down and awarded a penalty shot. Windsor goalie Joey Costanzo would get a right pad over to deny Mignosa.

Article content

Article content

“Especially in the playoffs, it’s a game of momentum,” Walters said. “They got some momentum scoring off that five-on-three, but we got it back and completed a huge W (win).

“Joe was really good. Calm, he made some big saves for us at timely times.”

The momentum quickly turned back to Windsor and Garden and Greentree scored 47 seconds apart in the second period to give the Spitfires a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

“It’s all them,” Protas, who had three assists on Saturday and has seven in the series, said of his linemates with Greentree also has seven pints and Morneau adding five goals and six points.

“They (Morneau and Greentree) are great players, but they’re better people off the ice and it’s fun to play with them. We have chemistry and hope we keep going.”

Article content

Morneau added two more goals in the third period to complete his first OHL playoff hat-trick and finished with four points while chasing Greyhounds’ goalie Nolan Lalonde.

A.J. Spellacy’s speed sent him in alone with Windsor killing a penalty and he beat Landon Miller to complete the scoring.

“We already sent a message during the year,” Protas said. “We were second (seed in the conference). These two games are another message we can play in playoffs and are a good team.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/winstarparker

Game Summary

Saturday Result

Spitfires 7 Greyhounds 1

Sault Ste. Marie 1 0 0 – 1

Windsor 2 2 3 – 7

First period: 1. Windsor, Morneau 3 (Nesbitt, Protas) 2:04 (pp), 2. Windsor, Hicks 1 (Garden, Spellacy) 2:44, 3. Sault Ste. Marie, Allard 2 (Reid, Mignosa) 10:16. Penalties: Reid S (tripping) 1:01, McConnell-Barker S (hooking) 4:43, Walton W (high sticking), Woodall W (hooking) 9:29. Penalty shot: Mignosa S stopped by Costanzo 14:52.

Article content

Second period: 4. Windsor, Garden 1 (Gaymes, Costello) 3:46, 5. Windsor, Greentree 3 (Protas, Morneau) 4:33. Penalties: Martin S (goaltender interference) :25, Woodall W (head check) 8:28, Evans S (roughing) 10:51, McConnell-Barker S (delay of game) 14:54, Hayes S (head check) 17:44.

Third period: 6. Windsor, Morneau 4 (Greentree, Protas) 5:28, 7. Windsor, Morneau 5 (Greentree, Nesbitt) 9:37 (pp),  8. Windsor, Spellacy 1 (unassisted) 14:09 (sh). Penalties: Andrew S (checking from behind) 1:46, Martin S (slashing) 8:49, Nesbitt W ( roughing) 12:34, Charron S (roughing), Evans S (roughing), Costello W (roughing), McNamara W (double minor roughing) 15:45.

Game stats – SOG – Sault Ste. Marie 11 8 6 – 25 Windsor 9 12 13 – 34 Goal (shots-saves) – Sault Ste. Marie: Lalonde (L,0-2-0) (28-22), Miller (9:37 of third period) (6-5). Windsor: Costanzo (W,2-0-0) (25-24). Power play (goals-chances) – Sault Ste. Marie 1-5. Windsor 2-8. Referees: Matt Mannella and Aaron Neely. Linesmen: Dalton Kipp and Dan Kovachik. Att.: 5,640 at the WFCU Centre.

Article content