There was a time the schedule could be a grind.

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There was a time the schedule could be a grind.

Years ago, Ontario Hockey League teams often faced the daunting challenge of playing three games in three days.

The Windsor Spitfires will face that challenge three times this season and Saturday the club wrapped up its first three games in three days challenge with a third-straight win.

“I’m proud of the kids,” Spitfires’ head coach Greg Walters said. “It didn’t look like a team that played three in three.”

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With the help of four power-play goals, the Spitfires scored a 6-3 win over the Ottawa 67’s before a crowd of 4,617 at the WFCU Centre.

“From the start, you have short shifts and kind of build off momentum,” Spitfires’ defenceman Anthony Cristoforo said. “A lot of adrenaline takes place when you’re playing these games.”

The 67’s twice rallied to tie the game, but the Spitfires never trailed in the game.

Rookie Ethan Belchetz tipped hoe  a shot on a Windsor power play to give the Spitfires and early lead, but Nic Whitehead scored late in the period to pull the 67’s event at 1-1.

“Once you get your legs under you after that first period under you’re pretty good,” said Spitfires’ defenceman Tnias Mathurin, who saw his share of three-in-three stretches in three years with North Bay. “Just for that first period, keeping it simple.”

Windsor’s Jack Nesbitt and Ottawa’s Filip Ekberg would exchange power-play goals before the Spitfires took the lead for good late in the second period.

Captain Liam Greentree forced a turnover that led to an Ilya Protas goal just 51 seconds after the 67’s tied the game. Just 42 seconds after that, Greentree added Windsor’s third power-play goal on a Protas feed to put the Spitfires up 4-2 after 40 minutes.

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“That was huge for us,” Greentree said. “Our power play has been a little lacking, but that was huge for us.”

Luca Pinelli’s power-play goal had the 67’s within a goal early in the third period, but Cole Davis restored the two-goal lead and Greentree added an insurance goal on a late power play.

“It’s obviously tough, but I think our squad’s really resilient,” Greentree said of playing three games in three days. “I’m super proud of the guys. 

“For us, the little details are a big part of our game. D(defensive)-zone arrivals, making sure you’re in the right spot, making sure you’re getting stick in the right lane and all that stuff. For us, the little things have been a big focus for us.”

After a 10-1-1 start, the Spitfires had struggled over the following nine games going 4-4-1, but now the club is riding a ] three-game winning streak and Cristoforo believes the team is back on course.

“We are that team that we showed we were at the start of the year,” Cristoforo said. “In a year, there’s peaks and valleys and I think we maybe hit a valley and I think we’re coming out of it stronger and better.”

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The Spitfires now hold a nine-point advantage over the Saginaw Spirit in the West Division. Windsor will face Saginaw on Wednesday at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

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Game Summary

Saturday Result

Spitfires 6 67’s 3

Ottawa 1 1 1 – 3

Windsor 1 3 2 – 6

First period: 1. Windsor, Belchetz 7 (Davis, Woodall) 5:30 (pp), 2. Ottawa, Whitehead 2 (Ekberg, Amidovski) 16:08. Penalties: Dietsch O (holding) 4:42, Eshawkogan O (hooking) 16:26. 

Second period: 3. Windsor, Nesbitt 11 (Protas, Morneau) 3:25 (pp), 4. Ottawa, Ekberg 7 (Pinelli, Mews) 17:08 (pp), 5. Windsor, Protas 13 (Greentree) 17:59, 6. Windsor, Greentree 12 (Protas, Morneau) 18:41. Penalties: Eshkawkogan O (double minor high sticking) :53, Protas W (interference) 15:27, Dietsch O (high sticking) 18:20.

Third period: 7. Ottawa, Pinelli 17 (Foster, Mews) 4:04 (pp), 8. Windsor, Davis 7 (Nesbitt, Abraham) 12:39, 9. Windsor, Greentree 13 (Nesbitt, Protas) 15:28 (pp). Penalties: Dietsch O (misconduct), Gaymes W (misconduct), Martin W (cross checking) 2:30, Yanni O (roughing), Abraham W (roughing) 10:10, Pinelli O (high sticking) 14:34, Mayich O (roughing) 15:04, Whitehead O (roughing), Spellacy W (roughing) 19:55.

Game stats – SOG – Ottawa 6 7 6 – 19 Windsor 8 10 12 – 30 Goal (shots-saves) – Ottawa: McKenzie (L,4-6-1-2) (30-24). Windsor: Costanzo (W,14-4-1-0) (19-16). Power play (goals-chances) – Ottawa 2-2. Windsor 4-7. Referees: Mike Cairns and Cameron Fynney. Linesmen: Phil Nadeau and Luke Pye. Att.: 4,617 at the WFCU Centre.

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